Miley Cyrus is officially done with the chaos. Honestly, it feels like we’ve watched her grow up through a telescope, from the purity ring days to that "Wrecking Ball" era that kept everyone’s parents up at night. But lately? Things are different. If you’ve seen her on a red carpet in the last few months, there’s this specific kind of calm she’s carrying. It isn’t just the Pilates or the Grammy wins. It’s the guy standing next to her.
Miley Cyrus dating news used to be a whirlwind of paparazzi chases and cryptic Instagram captions. Now, it’s about Maxx Morando. They’ve been together for about four years, and as of late 2025, they’re finally engaged. It’s the kind of relationship that sneaks up on you because they aren't constantly shouting about it on TikTok.
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Why the Maxx Morando Era is Different
Most people remember the Liam Hemsworth years. That was a ten-year rollercoaster of "are they or aren't they" that ended in a very public divorce. After that, we saw the whirlwind romances with Kaitlynn Carter and Cody Simpson. It felt like Miley was searching for something—or maybe just trying to figure out who she was outside of a couple.
Then came Maxx.
He’s the drummer for the band Liily. He’s six years younger than her. He’s Gen Z, and she’s a Millennial. But somehow, it works. Miley told Harper’s Bazaar recently that they don’t take life too seriously. That’s probably the secret sauce. While her previous relationships felt like high-stakes dramas, this one feels like a jam session.
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They actually met on a blind date. Can you imagine being the person setting up Miley Cyrus on a blind date? Miley joked to British Vogue that it was blind for her, but not for him. She went in with the mindset of "the worst that can happen is I leave." She didn't leave. They’ve been together since the summer of 2021, and they’ve moved from "just dating" to being full-on creative partners.
Collaborative Love
Maxx isn't just the "boyfriend" in the background. He’s all over her music. He produced tracks like "Handstand" and "Violet Chemistry" on her Endless Summer Vacation album. He also worked on her newest project, Something Beautiful.
It’s a different dynamic. In the past, her partners were often actors or high-profile stars with their own massive orbits. Maxx is a musician’s musician. He’s low-key. He doesn't love the press. People close to Miley say he’s a "great guy" who has helped her find a sense of harmony.
The Engagement and the Ring
The rumors started swirling around her 33rd birthday in November 2025. Fans noticed a certain sparkler. Then, at the Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere in Los Angeles on December 1, 2025, she made it impossible to ignore.
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She walked the red carpet in a black Gucci gown, flashing a massive cushion-cut diamond. It’s set in a chunky 14-karat yellow gold band, designed by Jacquie Aiche. It’s not your typical "trad-wife" engagement ring. It’s very Miley—a bit edgy, very custom, and undeniably expensive (rumored to be around $450,000).
- Relationship Start: Summer 2021 (Blind date).
- Public Debut: Gucci Love Parade, November 2021.
- Big Milestone: Moved in together in early 2024.
- Grammy Moment: She called him "my love" during her 2024 acceptance speech.
- Engagement: Confirmed December 2025.
What’s the Deal with the Age Gap?
Miley was born in 1992; Maxx was born in 1998. In Hollywood, a six-year age gap is basically nothing. Still, Miley finds it funny. She’s mentioned that they grew up with different tech—she had a shared desktop, he grew up with a laptop.
She even joked that he "raised their dog off Reddit." If that isn't the most Gen Z thing you've ever heard, I don't know what is. But she says his perspective inspires her. He looks at the world differently, and for someone who has been in the industry since she was a toddler, that "fresh eyes" vibe is probably exactly what she needed.
The "Cringe" Factor and Wedding Plans
Here’s the thing about Miley: she’s always going to be real. In early January 2026, reports surfaced that she feels "cringed out" when she has to call him her fiancé. It’s not that she isn't happy—she’s obsessed with him. It’s just that the labels feel a bit stiff for a girl who spent her twenties sticking her tongue out at tradition.
Don't expect a massive, televised wedding. Sources say she’s not really into the "bride" thing again. Her first wedding to Liam was a small, private ceremony in Tennessee, and it seems she wants to keep things even more low-key this time. There’s talk of eloping or doing something "meaningful and small."
She’s in her "protection" era. After years of giving the public every piece of her heart and her trauma, she’s holding this relationship close to the chest. At the 2026 Golden Globes, she even attended solo to keep the focus on her work, specifically her nominated track "Dream As One."
Lessons from Miley’s Love Life
If there’s one thing to take away from the evolution of Miley Cyrus dating, it’s that you don’t have to settle for a relationship that feels like a struggle.
- Wait for the Respect: Miley has been very vocal about the fact that Maxx treats her with incredible respect. She admitted she had to learn what that looked like on her own.
- Privacy is a Choice: You can be one of the most famous women on the planet and still keep your private life private. It just takes boundaries.
- Collaborate with People Who Get You: Whether it’s music or just life, finding someone who speaks your "creative language" changes the game.
Miley seems to have finally found a partner who doesn't want to change her or compete with her. He just wants to play the drums while she sings. And for a girl who "can buy her own flowers," having someone to share the vase with is a pretty sweet upgrade.
Keep an eye on her upcoming tour dates and album releases. Most of the lyrics these days aren't about heartbreak—they're about a "Violet Chemistry" that actually lasts.