Miley Cyrus says her ‘loyalty’ was to her mom during family drama: ‘Family is my priority’

Miley Cyrus opened up about the “dark decade” of family drama that shadowed much of her life, and how she took it upon herself to mend those fractured relationships. The singer confessed that she showed her support for her mom, Tish Cyrus, and stood by her side after her divorce from Billy Ray.

Speaking on Monica Lewinsky’s podcast ‘Reclaiming’ on June 10, the 32-year-old singer revealed that her family’s conflicts ran so deep that “half of us weren’t speaking to each other at one point.” The tension started after the divorce of her parents, which was finalized in 2022 after nearly 30 years of marriage.

“We’re so messy, we didn’t even do any of that [therapy],” Miley said, explaining that even arranging a counseling session would have sparked a “war.” Instead, she chose a different approach. “I just kind of busted through the pile that stacked and just [went], ‘I’m here, you’re here, let’s start by having a good time together,’” she shared. 

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“Then, as we start bringing some happiness and joy into each other’s life, then we’ll be in a better place to have these conversations.” The singer emphasized the importance of starting with balance and connection, saying it was “easier to [wave] a white flag” than to jump into intense family therapy. 

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Her loyalty during the family drama was to her mom, as she also showed in multiple public appearances and red carpet events. Miley described how the difficult family dynamics and unresolved issues would “stack” over time. “It’s been 10 years, and this is a mess that I barely even know how to start. This is emotional hoarding,” she reflected.

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In addition to reconciling, Miley revealed she is channeling the complicated emotions into her music. She’s working on a new album featuring a track titled “Secrets,” inspired by her hopes that her dad would feel safe enough to open up about family wounds. “I wanted him to think that as a middle child, I’m old enough that I could take some of that,” she said.

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Reflecting on her father, Miley acknowledged his complex nature, describing him as “intelligent,” “very intuitive,” and even “manipulative.” Meanwhile, Tish has moved on, marrying actor Dominic Purcell in 2023, whose previous relationship with Miley’s sister Noah reportedly caused family tension.

“Now, in my thirties, family is my priority above all else. I’m at peace knowing bridges have been built and time has done a lot of healing. Grateful for the good health and love that flows through my family,” Miley declared.