Miley Cyrus is the only person on the planet who could make a "jellyfish" haircut look like high fashion at the Grammys. Honestly, if you grew up watching her, the whiplash is real. One minute she’s a 13-year-old in a blonde wig trying to hide a secret identity from her TV classmates, and the next, she’s standing on a stage in 2025 as a seasoned industry titan, holding a gold gramophone and looking like she just stepped off a 1970s rock poster.
We talk about Miley Cyrus then vs now like she’s two different people. But the truth? She’s probably the most consistent person in Hollywood. She just happens to do her growing up in front of 40 million people.
The Disney Golden Child Who Wasn't Actually That Golden
Let’s go back. 2006. Hannah Montana was a juggernaut. It wasn't just a show; it was a billion-dollar factory. Miley Stewart was the "relatable" girl next door, and Hannah was the pop star. But even then, the real Miley was already poking holes in the script. Remember the 2008 Vanity Fair cover? The one where she was 15 and "scandalously" wrapped in a sheet? People lost their minds. Looking back now, the backlash feels gross and misplaced.
She was a kid.
The media treated her like a tactical problem to be solved. They wanted the wig to stay on forever. But Miley was already telling us she wasn't that girl. In her 2009 hit "Party in the U.S.A.," she literally sang about being an outsider in L.A. who had never even heard a Jay-Z song. She was being marketed as a pop princess while she was secretly listening to Joan Jett and Dolly Parton.
The "Bangerz" Era: When the World Flipped Out
If you want to pinpoint the exact moment the Miley Cyrus then vs now conversation became a national obsession, it’s the 2013 VMAs. The foam finger. The twerking. The "Wrecking Ball" video.
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People called it a breakdown. It wasn't.
It was a controlled demolition. She had to blow up the Disney house to build anything else. She chopped her hair, bleached it platinum, and leaned into hip-hop influences that—let’s be real—earned her some fair criticism regarding cultural appropriation. She’s since acknowledged that period with more nuance, but at the time, it was pure rebellion. She wasn't "lost"; she was just loud.
The Voice That Finally Caught Up to the Fame
For a long time, Miley’s antics overshadowed her instrument. That’s the tragedy of her middle years. People were so busy talking about her outfits that they forgot she has one of the most unique, gravelly contralto voices in modern music.
Then came the Backyard Sessions.
Seeing her cover "Jolene" in a garden with a live band changed the narrative. It reminded everyone that beneath the glitter and the tongue-wagging, she could out-sing almost anyone on the Top 40. This started the shift toward the Miley we see now—the rock-adjacent powerhouse who sounds like she’s been smoking cigarettes with Stevie Nicks since the 70s.
Miley Cyrus Now: The 2026 Perspective on a Disney Legend
Fast forward to today. In 2024, she finally got her flowers—literally. Winning Record of the Year for "Flowers" at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards felt like a "we’re sorry" from the industry. It was the best-selling track of 2023, a self-love anthem that didn't need a gimmick to work.
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And she didn't stop there. By the 2025 Grammys, she was winning again, this time for "II MOST WANTED," her country collaboration with Beyoncé. It’s wild to think she’s now the youngest person ever named a Disney Legend, a title she accepted with a mix of irony and genuine pride.
What’s different now?
- The Look: She’s moved into what fans call her "Cher era." Think custom Alaïa, big hair, and vintage silhouettes. It’s elegant but still has that "I might ride a motorcycle through this gala" energy.
- The Sound: Her 2025 visual album, Something Beautiful, leans heavily into a "psychedelic pop-rock" vibe. It’s a far cry from the bubblegum of Breakout.
- The Philosophy: She’s remarkably private now. She doesn't tour much. She famously told British Vogue that performing for hundreds of thousands of people doesn't feel "natural" to her anymore. She’d rather do her thing on her own terms.
The Personal Evolution: Liam, Maxx, and Finding Peace
You can't talk about her journey without mentioning the house that burned down. The 2018 Woolsey Fire destroyed her home with then-husband Liam Hemsworth. She’s been candid about how that trauma fueled their marriage—a "last attempt to save herself" that ultimately ended in 2020.
These days, things are quieter. She’s been with drummer Maxx Morando for a few years, and the vibe is significantly more low-key. She isn't chasing the headlines anymore; the headlines are chasing her, and she’s mostly just... not home.
Practical Ways to Appreciate the "New" Miley
If you’re still stuck on the 2013 version of her, you’re missing out on some of the best vocal work of the decade. Here’s how to catch up:
- Listen to Plastic Hearts (2020): If you like 80s rock, this is your entry point. The "Midnight Sky" track is a masterclass in synth-pop.
- Watch the 2024 Grammy Performance: Watch her ad-lib "I just won my first Grammy!" in the middle of "Flowers." It’s pure, unadulterated joy.
- Check out the Happy Hippie Foundation: See the work she’s doing for homeless LGBTQ youth. It’s been her passion project since 2014 and shows the depth behind the "wild girl" persona.
- Spin Something Beautiful: Her 2025 project proves she isn't interested in repeating the "Flowers" formula just for hits. She’s still experimenting.
Miley Cyrus didn't "change" as much as she just stopped pretending. The girl who was "just being Miley" in 2008 is the same woman who accepted a Disney Legend award in 2024. She just finally has the wardrobe and the Grammys to match the voice she’s had all along.
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To stay updated on her latest projects, keep an eye on her official "Smiley Miley" channels, as she tends to drop visual content and new collaborations with very little warning these days.