The meanings behind 10 of Miley Cyrus' most successful songs
She's written so many incredible songs 🎶
Miley Cyrus is one of the biggest stars in the world - known not only for her incredible songs, unique voice and songwriting abilities, but also as an actress and former child star. Throughout the years, Miley has had plenty of very successful songs, such as 'Wrecking Ball, 'Malibu', 'The Climb' and 'When I Look At You', but what are the meaning behind the songs?
After releasing huge bangers such as 'Flowers', which amassed plenty of fan theories, and her eighth album 'Endless Summer Vacation', Miley released 'Used To Be Young' along with a TikTok series. She has a very impressive catalogue of hits under her belt, so join us as we delve deeper into the meanings behind her most popular tracks.
'Prisoner' with Dua Lipa
Miley collaborated with ‘One Kiss’ superstar Dua Lipa on their hit ‘Prisoner’. The song was released on 19th November 2020, and peaked at Number 8 the UK Chart. To date, the music video has now surpassed over 105 million views on YouTube.
Despite fans being delighted at the pop superstars collab, ‘Prisoner’ has a rather dark meaning, with the lyrics reflecting what it’s like to be captured in a manipulative and controlling relationship. This can be heard in lyrics such as: ‘Strung out on a feeling, my hands are tied’ and: ‘Locked up, can't get you off my mind, off my mind. Lord knows I tried a million times’.
The song also alludes to a partner constantly pulling them back in, with lyrics such as: ‘You keep makin' it harder to stay, but I still can't run away. I gotta know, why can't you, why can't you just let me go?’
With the track also being released during the COVID-19 lockdown, Miley also added that the lyrics reflect being in quarantine, saying: "What I love about 'Prisoner,' I mean, I think it's also coming at a perfect time for everybody. I mean, in a way...I feel too, I mean, we're just trapped in our emotions right now. I mean, really me, there's no escaping it.
"It's like, 'Locked up, can't get you off my mind.' Anything that you've tried to suppress or compartmentalize at that point, it's coming up. It's yours to own, to own it or release it."
WATCH: Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa 'Prisoner' (Official Video):
'When I Look At You'
'When I Look At You' was released by Miley Cyrus in 2010 and was the second single from her first EP 'The Time of Our Lives'. The song was used to promote the 2010 coming-of-age film The Last Song, and the video has now had more than 111 million views on YouTube.
The track is undeniably a love song, featuring in The Last Song during a close moment between Miley's character and her love interest (that just so happened to be played by her now ex-husband Liam Hemsworth).
The song is thought to detail a relationship where despite what one person is going through, they have a person who they can always turn to. This can be heard in lyrics such as: 'When the waves are flooding the shore, and I can't find my way home anymore, that's when I look at you'.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'When I Look At You' (Official Video)
'Midnight Sky'
In 2020, Miley Cyrus released her comeback single 'Midnight Sky'. In an interview with us, Miley explained that it was written in two parts. "The idea for the song and the writing, happened at very different times," Miley explained.
Miley went on to reveal her last night out before the Pandemic hit inspired her opening lyrics as it had hundreds of disco balls on the ceiling: 'It's been a long night and the mirror's tellin' me to go home.' From there, it is thought that the lyrics relate to her marriage and divorce from Liam.
With the track being released in August 2020, it wouldn't be too surprising if the lyrics were about her former marriage with Liam, which ended in January of that same year. Lyrics that are thought to directly relate to him include: 'Lotta years went by with my hands tied up in your ropes' and 'I don’t need to be loved by you'.
As a whole, the song is about being fine on your own coming out of a long-term relationship. It also floats the idea that during these times, it's easier to keep your 'head in the clouds'. Lyrics that reflect this include: 'I was born to run, I don’t belong to anyone' and 'I was born to run, I don’t belong to anyone'.
On the song, Miley told Zach Sang: "This song is really just a reflection of everyone kind of having this personal kind of woke moment, I feel like a lot of us are waking up. And you know, the midnight sky, I think is kind of a road that feels like it could be nice to take with our head up in the clouds."
She continued: "So I think that it’s a cool message, to tell people to create the environment and the world that you wanna live in and I think that’s happening on a very political level right now. But also we can do it especially in this quarantine time, in these intimate spaces of our home that we have a place that feels like we’ve created our own environment, our own head in the clouds, so this is mine."
Within the track, you may also notice Miley make a reference to Brody Jenner’s ex Kaitlynn Carter, with whom Miley made headlines with in 2020 when they were spotted kissing on a boat on holiday in Italy. The reference can be heard in the lyrics: 'See my lips on her mouth, everybody’s talkin’ now'.
The popular song now has over a whopping 201 million views on YouTube.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'Midnight Sky' (Official Video)
'Adore You'
A stunning melodic tune from Miley, 'Adore You' featured on her fourth album 'Bangerz' - released in 2013. As well as hitting the UK Charts, the video has now amassed over 203 million views.
Unsurprisingly, the song is about Miley's adoration for a certain someone. Declaring her love, the song depicts how the emotions are ever-lasting, heard in lyrics such as: 'I could do this for eternity, you and me'. The lyrics also relate to how Miley and her beau are 'meant to be', with lyrics such as: 'God knew exactly what he was doing when he led me to you'.
Although many think the song is about Miley's ex Liam, it is in fact one of the few songs on the album that were not co-written by the singer. Instead, the song was actually penned by Brooklyn singer-songwriter Stacy Barthe.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'Adore You'
Warning - this video is on the raunchy side
'Can't Be Tamed'
Aah - a Miley classic! Released in 2010, 'Can't Be Tamed' was one of Miley's earlier tracks, giving us all a taste of what to expect from the singer as a solo artist, as she began to distance herself from her Disney persona of Hannah Montana.
Showing off her own look, the video shows Miley being watched by crowds as she is trapped inside a bird cage - but as she flourishes, she escapes the bars. This was seen as a metaphor not only showing she 'can't be tamed', but also Miley breaking away from her known persona at the time. Many thought this was Miley 'introducing' herself as a solo artist, beginning the song with the lyrics: 'For those who don't know me, I can get a bit crazy...'
Revolving around female empowerment, Miley is expressing how you can free yourself from anything you think is holding you back. This can be heard in lyrics like: 'I wanna fly I wanna drive I wanna go, I wanna be a part of something I don't know, and if you try to hold me back I might explode'. On top of that, the idea of living freely can be heard in lyrics such as: 'And every tomorrow is a day I never plan'.
The creative video now has over 208 million views on YouTube.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'Can't Be Tamed'
'Jolene'
Although Miley has never released 'Jolene' she performed it live at Wango Tango in 2017. 'Jolene' was originally sung by Miley's godmother, the country music legend Dolly Parton. The YouTube video has now amassed over 412 million views.
Despite this one not being a Miley original, it is an incredibly important song to Dolly. Although the song is about being threatened by another woman, the country singer revealed to NPR that she actually took such a liking to the name Jolene, she decided to write a song about it! She said: "One night, I was on stage, and there was this beautiful little girl - she was probably eight years old at the time.
"She had this beautiful red hair, this beautiful skin, these beautiful green eyes, and she was looking up at me, holding, you know, for an autograph. I said, 'Well, you're the prettiest little thing I ever saw. So what is your name?' And she said, 'Jolene.' And I said, 'Jolene. Jolene. Jolene. Jolene.' I said, 'That is pretty. That sounds like a song. I'm going to write a song about that.'"
From here, Dolly pulled on a real-life experience with an attractive red-headed bank teller, who supposedly flirted with her husband Carl Dean in 1966. At Glastonbury, Dolly joked that she wrote the song when "my husband was spending a little more time with Jolene than I thought he should be". She continued: "I put a stop to that. I got rid of that redhead woman in a hurry. Had it not been for that woman I would never have written 'Jolene' and I wouldn't have made all that money, so thank you, Jolene."
In the lyrics, Dolly can be heard pleading with Jolene to stop flirting with her 'man', with lines such as: 'Jolene, oh, I'm begging of you please don't take my man', 'please don't take him even though you can' and 'you could easily take my man, but you don't know what he means to me'.
Miley has honoured her godmother many times with performances of the hit track, with them even performing the song alongside each other on multiple occasions - most recently at Miley's New Years party!
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'Jolene' (The Backyard Sessions)
'Flowers'
'Flowers' was a huge comeback single for Miley when she released it in January 2023. Many fans thought it was written in response to a Bruno Mars song, 'When I Was Your Man' - with theories even suggesting the music video harbours references to her and Liam's former relationship. 'Flowers' has been nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards.
When it comes to the meaning behind the song, we cannot confirm or deny whether or not it is about Liam. It's fair to say, however, that all of the fan theories are pretty convincing. Check out all of the theories here, as well as a deeper look into the meaning behind the lyrics to 'Flowers'.
All in all, the song is about self-love and empowering individuals to thrive on their own. This can be heard in lyrics such as: 'I can buy myself flowers, I can hold my own hand' and 'I can love me better than you can'.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'Flowers'
'The Climb'
In 2009, Miley released 'The Climb' which was featured on the soundtrack for Hannah Montana: The Movie, receiving a GRAMMY nomination for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media.
'The Climb' was a successful song in the UK reaching Number 11, and the music video has now had over 465 million views on YouTube. The video features Miley singing as she's climbing a mountain, interspersed with clips from the film.
When it comes to the meaning behind the lyrics, Miley speaks of how it's not necessarily about where you end up, but the lessons you learn and experiences you go through on the way. Miley speaks of how there are always going to be more things that one wants, however the real importance lies in how we go about getting these things.
This can be heard in the lyrics: 'There's always gonna be another mountain, I'm always gonna wanna make it move. Always gonna be an uphill battle', and with 'the climb' referring to the journey one takes: 'Ain't about what's waiting on the other side, it's the climb'.
The song also highlights the importance of perseverance, and continuing your journey even when things get difficult. This can be heard in lyrics such as:'I gotta keep trying, gotta keep my head held high', 'Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose. Ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waiting on the other side - It's the climb', and 'Keep on moving, keep climbing. Keep the faith, baby, it's all about the climb'.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'The Climb'
'Malibu'
Released in 2017, 'Malibu' is Miley's self-professed love song to ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. The song traces the pair's rollercoaster of a relationship, from when they first got together, to their break-up, and then reunion (before their eventual divorce in 2020).
Paying homage to how free she felt in Malibu, where they lived together, Miley thanks Liam with the lyrics: 'I never came to the beach and stood by the ocean. I never sat by the shore under the sun with my feet in the sand. But you brought me here, and I'm happy that you did, ‘cause now I'm as free as birds catching the wind.'
The lyrics see Miley associate her happiness living in Malibu with being with Liam, with lyrics such as: 'Next to you, the sky is more blue in Malibu', and 'And I wanna thank you with all of my heart. It's a brand new start, a dream come true, in Malibu'.
The song also refers to Miley conquering previous fears, and how thanks to coming to Malibu with her then-husband allowed her to come to terms with these. This can be heard in lines such as: 'And sometimes I get so scared of what I can’t understand, but here I am, next to you, the sky is so blue'.
Sadly, the pair divorced three years after the song's release, however the gorgeous song still proves to be one of Miley's most popular, with over 524 million views on YouTube.
WATCH: Miley Cyrus 'Malibu'
'Wrecking Ball'
'Wrecking Ball' was a hugely successful song for Miley Cyrus in 2013, reaching Number 1 around the world, however the music video was particularly controversial after it included clips of Miley sitting naked on a wrecking ball. The video has now had more than 1.1 billion views on YouTube - her most viewed to date!
Despite the song's incredible success, the meaning behind the lyrics is a rather heart-wrenching one. Radiating raw emotion, fear and honesty, the song related to Miley falling fast and hard in love, however she ended up hurt and, well, 'wrecked'. This can be heard in the chorus line: 'I never hit so hard in love, all I wanted was to break your walls. All you ever did was wreck me'.
The wrecking ball metaphor prevalent throughout, Miley speaks of how the relationship 'crumbled'. The lyrics show regret and reflection, as well as intense vulnerability, as Miley describes how the pair fell fast and hard, ending in heartache. This can be heard in lyrics such as: 'I never meant to start a war, I just wanted you to let me in. And instead of using force, I guess I should've let you win', and 'Yeah, I just closed my eyes and swung. Left me crashing in a blazing fall'.
The track is so emotionally raw, it has proven difficult for the star to perform at times. In 2021, while performing at the tailgate show ahead of the Super Bowl, Miley was forced to stop her performance during the track, becoming visibly overwhelmed. She then told the audience: "It never gets easier".
She then explained to the crowd that the song is "about feeling completely broken and shattered", continuing: "I wear a lot of glitter and I wear a lot of armour, and I also wear my heart on my sleeve, and it gets broken a lot."
WATCH: Miley Cyrus - 'Wrecking Ball'
Warning - this video is on the raunchy side
You can hear Miley's biggest hits, and new music, on the Forth 1 playlist.
Take a look at Miley Cyrus' incredible career:
Career beginnings
Miley was born on 23rd November 1992, named Destiny Hope Cyrus. Her dad is country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and her mum is Tish Cyrus, a manager and producer. Miley's sister Noah is also a singer, and her brother Trace is known for being a member of the band Metro Station. Miley's sister Brandi is a DJ.
Early acting roles
Miley's first acting role was in her father Billy Ray Cyrus' TV series Doc. Altogether, Miley appeared in three episodes of the show, with her first appearance being an uncredited role in the pilot episode of the show at the age of nine. She also received a credit in 2003 for the role of Young Ruthie in Tim Burton's Big Fish, alongside big names including Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter and Danny DiVito.
2006: Hannah Montana
Miley auditioned for Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana when she was just 13-years-old. Initially, Miley went for the role of Hannah's best friend, but was then asked to try out for the lead instead. She was initially denied the role as she was 'too young and too small', but then won the part of Hannah Montana thanks to her singing and acting skills. Miley's dad Billy Ray played the role of Robby Ray Steward in the show, the father of Miley's character. Hannah Montana first aired in March 2006 and quickly became one of the Disney Channel's most popular shows.
September 2006: Tour with The Cheetah Girls
Miley toured with the Cheetah Girls as Hannah Montana. The Cheetah Girls is a girl band made up of Raven-Symoné, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Kiely Williams and Sabrina Bryan that was created by Disney and starred in three Disney movies. Miley joined the group on their second tour, which was called 'The Party's Just Begun Tour', performing at shows in September and October 2006 and March 2007.
October 2006: Hannah Montana soundtrack
Walt Disney Records release a Hannah Montana soundtrack album. The album's lead single was 'The Best of Both Worlds' - the theme tune for Hannah Montana. It reached Number 1 on the US Billboard Chart and is certified Gold in the UK and 3x Platinum in the United States.
June 2007: Miley releases ‘Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus'
Miley had signed a four-album deal with Hollywood Records and released the album 'Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus' in June 2007. The album had two discs, the first one being a second Hannah Montana soundtrack and the other being Miley's debut studio album.
Miley's debut album included the lead single 'See You Again', in addition to tracks including 'Start All Over' and 'I Miss You.' 'Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus' topped the US Billboard Chart and is certified Gold in the UK and 4x Platinum in the United States.
October 2007: Miley releases her debut solo single
Miley's debut solo single 'See You Again' was released, the lead single from 'Meet Miley Cyrus'. The song was re-released as a CD single in the UK on 21st August 2008. It reached Number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and is certified Silver in the UK.
October 2007 - March 2008: 'Best of Both Worlds Tour'
Miley embarked on the 'Best of Both Worlds Tour', which was in support of the album 'Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus'. On the tour, Miley visited cities in the United States and Canada. The success of the tour led to the release of the concert film Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. The film was initially released in the US and Canada on 1st February 2008, before being released worldwide on the Disney Channel in July 2008.
June 2008: Miley released her second studio album
Miley released her second studio album 'Breakout.' The album featured tracks including '7 Things' and 'Fly on the Wall'. It reached Number 10 on the UK Albums Chart and Number 1 on the US Billboard Chart. 'Breakout' is certified Platinum in the UK.
November 2008: Disney's Bolt
Miley made her film acting debut in the Disney animated film Bolt, voicing the character of Penny. She also co-wrote the song 'I Thought I Lost You' for the film, which she sang with her co-star John Travolta. Miley received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Original Song for 'I Thought I Lost You.'
March 2009: 'The Climb'
Miley released 'The Climb', which was on the soundtrack to the Hannah Montana feature film. The film's soundtrack made Miley the youngest artist in history to have four Number 1 albums on the Billboard Chart, at the age of just 16. 'The Climb' is certified Platinum in the UK and 6x Platinum in the United States.
April 2009: Hannah Montana: The Movie
In April 2009, Hannah Montana: The Movie was released. Miley stars in the film alongside dad Billy Ray and the other characters from the TV series. The film generated $155 million at the box office. Miley won a Kids Choice Award for Favourite Movie Actress in 2010.
August 2009: ‘The Time of Our Lives’ EP
Miley released an EP called 'The Time of Our Lives', which featured the singles 'Party In The USA' and 'When I Look At You' – which was used to promote the 2010 film The Last Song. 'Party In The USA' was a huge hit for Miley, and is certified 3x Platinum in the UK and 13x Platinum in the United States.
September 2009 – December 2009: 'Wonder World Tour'
Miley embarked on her first world tour called the 'Wonder World Tour', which saw Miley perform as herself, rather than as Hannah Montana. The tour was in support of her 'Breakout' album and 'The Time Of Our Lives' EP. The tour saw Miley perform dates across the US as well as in the UK and Ireland.
March 2010: The Last Song
Miley starred in the romantic drama film The Last Song, taking on the role of Veronica 'Ronnie' L Miller. Miley starred alongside her now ex-husband Liam Hemsworth in the film, which is where they met. The film was based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name.
June 2010: Miley released her third studio album
Miley released her third studio album 'Can't Be Tamed'. The album reached Number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and Number 3 on the US Billboard Chart. It is certified Silver in the UK and Gold in the US and featured the singles 'Who Owns My Heart' and the title track.
April 2011: 'Gypsy Heart Tour'
In April 2011 Miley embarked on the 'Gypsy Heart Tour', which started in Quito, Ecuador and finished in Perth, Australia in July 2011. Miley performed songs including 'Party In The USA', '7 Things' and 'The Climb', in addition to covers such as Fleetwood Mac's 'Landslide' and 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana.
2011/12: Acting roles
After finishing filming Hannah Montana, Miley decided to take a hiatus from music so she could spend time focusing on acting. During this time, she starred in the comedy film So Undercover, taking on the role of an undercover FBI agent at a college sorority. She also appeared alongside Demi Moore in the independent film LOL. Miley also made a guest appearance in two episodes of the sitcom Two and a Half Men. In May 2012, Miley and Liam Hemsworth got engaged.
June 2013: 'We Can't Stop'
Miley released her comeback single 'We Can't Stop'. The song topped the UK Singles Chart and went on to be certified 2x Platinum. Miley came back to music with a new look, sporting short blonde hair.
August 2013: 'Wrecking Ball'
Miley released 'Wrecking Ball', along with a video which showed her swinging on a wrecking ball whilst naked. Miley has since spoken about the time and said she regrets the sexualised image she portrayed then, mentioning that she was keen to reinvent herself after her Disney career.
Speaking to Billboard at the time of 'We Can't Stop's' release, Miley said: "Right now, when people go to iTunes and listen to my old music, it's so irritating to me because I can't just erase that stuff and start over," she says. "My last record, I feel so disconnected from - I was 16 or 17 when I made it. When you're in your 20s, you just don't really know that person anymore."
Miley then went on to release 'Wrecking Ball' in August 2013, the single topped charts in both the UK and US. It is certified 2x Platinum in the UK and 9x Platinum in the US. With Miley and Liam going on to end their engagement in September 2013, many people theorised over whether the song and its emotional video reference their break-up.
Miley performed at the 2013 MTV VMA awards with Robin Thicke, in an infamous performance that gained widespread media attention.
September 2013: Miley releases her fourth studio album
Miley released her fourth studio album, 'Bangerz'. The album topped the Album Charts in both the UK and US and gave Miley her first Grammy nomination when it was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2015 Grammy Awards. In October 2013, an MTV documentary called Miley: The Movement aired, documenting the journey of recording 'Bangerz'.
2014: 'Bangerz Tour'
Miley embarked on the 'Bangerz Tour', which started in Vancouver, Canada in February 2014 and concluded in Perth, Australia in October 2014.
August 2015: MTV VMAs and fifth studio album
Miley hosted the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2015. After performing the song 'Dooo It!' at the ceremony, Miley then announced that her fifth studio album 'Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz' was available for free streaming on SoundCloud. It was mostly written and produced by Miley.
2016: The Voice
Miley joined The Voice for its 11th season, subsequently becoming the youngest coach to appear on the show. Miley appeared on the panel alongside fellow coaches Alicia Keyes, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Miley took a break from the show for season 12, but returned for season 13. She later confirmed that she was not to return for season 14. Also in 2016, Miley reunited with Liam Hemsworth.
2017: Miley releases 'Malibu'
Miley released the song 'Malibu' in May 2017 as the lead single from her sixth studio album 'Younger Now.' The album was released in September 2017. The album reached Number 8 on the UK Album Chart and Number 5 on the US Billboard Chart. This marked a new era for Miley following the 'Bangerz' era. 'Malibu' is a love song to Liam, with the song telling the story of their relationship and paying homage to how she felt in Malibu – where they lived together.
November 2018: Collaboration with Mark Ronson
Miley teamed up with Mark Ronson on the huge track 'Nothing Breaks Like A Heart', which was released in November 2018. The track went on to reach Number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and is certified 2x Platinum in the UK.
That same month, Miley and Liam's home in California sadly burned down during the Woolsey Fire wildfire. Miley has explained that the trauma of the house fire had an impact on her voice. In 2019, Miley later had surgery for Reinke's oedema, which is a swelling of the vocal chords. In December 2018, Miley and Liam got married. Speaking to Howard Stern about her marriage and the fire, Miley said: "We were together since 16. Our house burned down. We had been, like engaged – I don't know if we really ever thought we were actually going to get married, but when we lost our house in Malibu – which if you listen to my voice pre and post fire, they're very different so that trauma really affected my voice. And I was actually in South Africa, so I couldn't come home, and like, my animals were tied to a post at the beach. I lost everything."
May 2019: 'She Is Coming' EP
Miley released the EP 'She Is Coming'. The EP featured the lead single 'Mother's Daughter', and she released 'Slide Away' as a standalone single in August 2019, later adding the track to the EP on its fourth anniversary. Miley and Liam split in August 2019, with 'Slide Away' thought to be about their relationship ending.
June 2019: Black Mirror
Miley featured in an episode of the fifth series of the Netflix show Black Mirror, the episode was called 'Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too.' In the episode, Miley played the character of fictional popstar Ashley O. The song 'On a Roll' was later released, with Miley adopting the moniker of Ashley O. The villa in South Africa that was used in the episode has since been used as the villa for Winter Love Island!
September 2019: 'Don't Call Me Angel'
Miley teamed up with Ariana Grande and Lana Del Rey on the song 'Don't Call Me Angel', which featured in the 2019 Charlie's Angels film. The video sees the trio don all-black angel outfits as they partake in activities including boxing and knife-throwing. The song reached Number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and is certified Silver.
August 2020: 'Midnight Sky'
Miley released the huge track 'Midnight Sky' as the lead single from her seventh studio album. The song reached Number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and is Certified 2x Platinum. The music video for the song was Miley's first self-directed music video.
November 2020: Miley releases her seventh studio album
Miley released her seventh album 'Plastic Hearts.' The album produced three singles – 'Midnight Sky', 'Prisoner' with Dua Lipa and 'Angels Like You'. 'Plastic Hearts' saw Miley enter the rock genre. Speaking about the album to Rolling Stone, Miley said: "I'm introducing my audience, my generation, to everything that inspired me and created this cocktail of chaos that I am."
The album reached Number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and Number 2 on the US Billboard Chart. It is certified Gold in the UK.
March 2021: Miley celebrates 15 years of Hannah Montana with an open letter
Miley wrote an open letter to her Hannah Montana character and shared it on social media to mark the 15th anniversary of the show. In the letter, Miley wrote: 'Although you are considered to be an 'alter ego' in reality there was a time in my life when you held more of my identity in your glovette than I did in my bare hands. We had an equal exchange in which you provided a superlative amount of fame in return for the anonymity I could gift to you. But, a lot has changed since then. You were like a rocket that flew me to the moon and never brought me back down.'
June 2021: Metallica cover
Miley released a cover version of Metallica's track 'Nothing Else Matters', which featured on 'The Metallica Blacklist', a tribute album which featured various artists covering tracks from the band's 1991 self-titled album. The cover also features Elton John on piano, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
December 2021: Miley's New Year's Eve Party
Miley co-hosted Miley's New Year's Eve party alongside Pete Davidson. The pair rapped to a parody version of Will Smith's track 'Miami' during the show and took part in a series of fun sketches together. Miley performed several tracks on the show including a rendition of Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' and her song 'Plastic Hearts.' Miley also duetted with her sister Noah and sang a cover of her godmother Dolly Parton's 'Jolene'.
April 2022: Miley releases a live album
Miley's third live album was released, called 'Attention: Miley Live'. The album was mostly recorded during her performance at the Super Bowl Music Fest in Los Angeles in February 2022. The album reached Number 5 in the UK Album Downloads Chart and included songs from across her career as well as covers including Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' and once again covering 'Jolene'.
December 2022: Miley's New Year's Eve Party
Miley also co-hosted a New Year's Party with Dolly in 2022, where she sang 'Wrecking Ball' alongside Dolly as part of a medley with 'I Will Always Love You'. The pair also duetted on Dolly's iconic hit 'Jolene' yet again. Guests on the show included Fletcher, Sia and the rock band Liily – who Miley's boyfriend Maxx Morando is the drummer for.
January 2023: 'Flowers'
Miley released the single 'Flowers', which was hugely popular around the world, reaching Number 1 in 37 countries including the UK and United States. 'Flowers' also broke streaming records to become the fastest song in Spotify history to reach one billion streams. The track is certified 2x Platinum in the UK.
Fans have many theories about the song, including that it is a rewrite of Bruno Mars' 2013 hit 'When I Was Your Man', which ex Liam once apparently dedicated to her. The video is also believed to contain several references to her relationship with Liam, including the Malibu house they lost. It was also released on 13th January, which is Liam's birthday.
March 2023: Miley releases her eighth studio album
Miley released her eighth studio album called 'Endless Summer Vacation.' The album produced the singles 'Flowers', 'River', 'Jaded' and 'Used To Be Young'. It reached Number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and is certified Silver. Also in March 2023, Miley released the Endless Summer Vacation Backyard Sessions on Disney+. The documentary saw Miley perform songs from 'Endless Summer Vacation' in addition to a special version of 'The Climb'. It also featured interviews with Miley about the album.
August 2023: Miley and Selena Gomez support each other
Miley and Selena Gomez both released new music on the 25th August – Miley's 'Used To Be Young' and Selena's track 'Single Soon'. Fans were delighted when Selena shared a clip from an episode of Hannah Montana to her Instagram Story to support Miley, adding that the pair have 'been friends since we used to be young.' Miley then returned the favour by sharing the post to her Story too.
August 2023: 'Used To Be Young' TikTok series
Miley released a series of videos to her TikTok page following the release of her single 'Used To Be Young', called Used To Be Young (Series). In the videos, Miley opened up about her life, from her childhood to the present day. The videos saw her open up about her Hannah Montana audition and talk about her relationship with her dad, Billy Ray.
October 2023: Miley and Dolly Parton release 'Wrecking Ball'
Miley teamed up with her godmother Dolly Parton on a duet of her 2013 hit 'Wrecking Ball.' This follows on from the pair performing the song together during Miley's New Year's Eve Party 2022. The song features on Dolly's album 'Rockstar.'
January 2024 : Miley receives two BRIT Award nominations
Miley Cyrus received two BRIT Award nominations in 2024 for International Artist of The Year and International Song of The Year ('Flowers').
February 2024: Miley wins two Grammy awards
Miley won two Grammy awards at the 2024 ceremony, with her huge hit 'Flowers' scooping the gongs for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
March 2024: Miley releases 'Doctor (Work It Out)' with Pharrell
Miley and Pharrell Williams delighted fans by teaming up on a new collab called 'Doctor (Work It Out)'. The song was released on 1st March and is believed to have originally been an off-cut from Miley's 2013 album 'Bangerz'
March 2024: Miley wins International Song of the Year BRIT Award
Miley's huge track 'Flowers' won the International Song of the Year award at the 2024 BRIT Awards.
Now read:
Miley Cyrus: Everything to know about the global superstar
Miley Cyrus through the years from Disney to 'Flowers'
Miley Cyrus' name isn't actually Miley Cyrus 😱