Billy Ray Cyrus Says Miley Dropping Last Name Is a “Natural Progression for an Iconic Superstar Legend”

Billy Ray Cyrus has shared his response to his daughter Miley Cyrus dropping her last name professionally as she heads into promotion for 10th album Bass Persuades.

“Family means more than ever now. I always called my little girl Miley. Just … Miley,” the singer wrote on X. “Just like I always called my little boy Braison. Bet you didn’t know … I was just CYRUS before Achy Breaky Heart came out in 92. All of my swag and T shirts only read[,] CYRUS  SOME GAVE ALL with a picture of a POW MIA flag on it that and the words  ..  ‘You are not forgotten.’“

Ahead of announcing her next record on Tuesday, Miley shifted her social media users to merely “Miley,” cutting the “Cyrus.” But her father is confirming he doesn’t mind the change at all.

Billy Ray added that he thinks his daughter simply going by Miley now is “a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend,” citing the likes of Dolly Parton, Cher, Elvis Presley and Prince as artists who also are often only referred to by their first name. In the post, he also shared an old photo of himself, Miley and Braison.

“I told @miley yesterday I felt good about her going with her first name,” he wrote. “I mentioned Dolly and Cher. Thinkin about it more and more … Elvis .. Prince …and so on. It’s a natural progression for an iconic superstar legend. And the legend continues ! Looking forward to the new album.”

Miley and Billy Ray reportedly had a falling out, seemingly after the split between her father and mother Tish Cyrus. However, they have since reconciled, with the “Flowers” singer even shouting him out during her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in May. She said, “My dad used to say that a skyscraper starts with a jackhammer — so does a star on the Walk of Fame by the way — and it’s not about the force, but it’s about the repetition… What feels so special to me about this star is that it’s an accumulation of devotion.”

Bass Persuades will release on Sept. 18. As part of the record reveal, Miley also announced she’d play two shows at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 16 and 18.