Miley Cyrus Leaves Out Father in New Grammy Speech
Miley Cyrus accepted the 2024 Grammy for Best Record of the Year, notably omitting mention of her sister Noah and father, Billy Ray Cyrus.
Ending her speech, Cyrus quipped, “I don’t think I forgot anyone, but I might have forgotten underwear.”
Miley Cyrus thanked several people in her #Grammys acceptance speech but there was one person noticeably missing from the list: her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus. https://t.co/X2218NqVMi
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 7, 2024
This incident hinted at underlying tension between the renowned “Achy Breaky Heart” singer and his daughter, a dynamic that followers of the artist had picked up on since the Grammy Awards. Despite the recognition, Cyrus, clad in a striking gown adorned with 14,000 gold safety pins, had earlier clinched her first Grammy of the night for Best Pop Solo Performance with the same track, “Flowers.”
Reflecting on her monumental wins, Cyrus took to Instagram to share her thoughts, admitting the inability to articulate the perfect words in the moment of shock. She expressed gratitude towards her mother Tish, sister Brandi, icons like Mariah Carey and Dolly Parton, in addition to her friends, fans, and collaborators who contributed to her success.
The year prior saw significant changes in the Cyrus family dynamic. In April 2022, Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus announced their divorce after two years of separation. Subsequently, Billy Ray’s engagement to Firerose, a musician 27 years younger than him, made headlines in October. This coincided with Tish’s own engagement to Dominic Purcell, known for his role in Prison Break, in November. Amidst these developments, followers noticed Cyrus’s Instagram activity, where she and her father mutually unfollowed each other, indicating potential strain in their relationship.
The familial divide became more apparent during the respective wedding ceremonies. Cyrus and Brandi chose to attend Tish’s nuptials, while opting out of their father’s ceremony. In contrast, Noah and Braison stood beside their father during his wedding.
In a poignant feature by Vogue capturing Tish’s wedding, Cyrus expressed overwhelming joy at witnessing her mother embrace love anew. She described the connection between Tish and Dominic as profound and genuine, noting the transformative effect it had on both of them. The “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” singer reflected on the beauty of the moment, emphasizing her deep emotional bond with her mother and the significance of giving her away to Dominic, a memory she will forever hold dear.
While the “Flowers” singer has refrained from addressing her parents’ divorce and the current status of her relationship with her father publicly, she has previously shared insights into her family dynamics.
In her recent Hulu special, Endless Summer Vacation: Continued (Backyard Sessions), Cyrus delved into the differing approaches she and her father have taken towards fame.
Breaking News:
— Rob/1865 (@Rob1865_) February 5, 2024
Billy Ray Cyrus Failed as a Father…
pic.twitter.com/v8nc8h7H2x
Reflecting on their contrasting backgrounds, Cyrus noted, “My dad grew up the opposite of me.” She described her upbringing in a tightly-knit family on a soundstage, surrounded by financial and emotional stability. Conversely, she acknowledged that her father had a different experience, lacking the same level of stability and facing the challenges of transitioning from having nothing to achieving fame and success.
Cyrus highlighted the emotional impact fame had on her father expressing, “Him feeling loved by a big audience impacted him emotionally more than it ever could me.” She shared her observation that her father’s sense of validation from the audience was deeply tied to healing past wounds, contrasting with her own upbringing where she always felt valued and celebrated.
I'm so kepohci but i just want to know the tea between Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughters. Like, her daughter just won a grammy and he be posting a pic with his newly-wedded-same-age-as-her-daughter wife. pic.twitter.com/1fzQ9acnCn
— Tzuyu Barbie (@Liyanabright) February 7, 2024
The discussion stirred emotional responses from Cyrus, as she tearfully admitted, “It makes me emotional.” This introspective exploration illuminated the profound differences in their perspectives on fame and underscored the complex dynamics within their relationship.
In 2013, Cyrus seemed to address her father on Twitter (now X), expressing frustration about his lack of response to her texts or emails. However, the tone of her post was ambiguous, leaving it unclear whether she intended it as a joke.
@billyraycyrus since your text and email obviously aren't working would you like to talk like this?
— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) June 13, 2013
“I have a very intimate and close relationship with my family. But like all families, we’re also complex, but we embrace the fact that each of us are so different from one another,” she shared in a 2021 interview with British Vogue. “Me and my siblings, we’re a lot alike, but we also have big differences. And we just accept that and don’t judge each other. And our family makes unconditional love a priority.”
You can want Cyrus’s performance at the Grammy Awards here.
