She may have inherited her father’s musical prowess and achieved the same level of fame and success, but Miley Cyrus believes she also inherited one less desirable trait from her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus.
In a lighthearted moment during her appearance on David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, the 31-year-old singer jokingly claimed that she inherited ‘narcissism’ from her 62-year-old father.
‘I also inherited narcissism from my father,’ Miley quipped amid their rumored estrangement. ‘I don’t know anything about my own siblings except for the part that I was doing. … I was moving to L.A., and that’s all I really knew.’
Miley Cyrus jokes she ‘inherited narcissism’ from her father Billy Ray Cyrus; pictured with her parents in 2019
The Hannah Montana star opened up about her family dynamics on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman
Miley also took the time to praise her mother as her ‘hero’ and acknowledged that while both her parents played a role in guiding her towards her successful career, their contributions couldn’t be weighed equally.
She did, however, credit her father for providing a roadmap for navigating the entertainment industry.
‘My father, I’m grateful for being able to watch him ahead of me. He’s almost given me this map, and it’s a map of what to do and what not to do, and he’s guided me on both,’ she explained.
Miley, the daughter of Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus, further emphasized the impact her father has had on her life, saying, ‘Without my dad, I know … who I am as a person wouldn’t exist. Because my dad as a creative and like, as an artist, and the way his brain works has always made me feel safer in my own mind.’
Billy Ray and Tish were married for 29 years and share five children: Miley, Braison (30), Noah (24), Brandi (37), and Trace (35), Tish’s two children from a previous relationship whom Billy Ray adopted.
However, Miley’s relationship with her father has been strained amid a rumored family feud, which was apparent when she snubbed him in her Grammys acceptance speech earlier this year. At the time, she only thanked her mother, Tish.
She praised her mother as her ‘hero’ and acknowledged the different roles her parents played in her career.
According to a source who spoke to Us Weekly, Billy Ray has made attempts to reconcile with his daughter, even congratulating her on her Grammy win. However, the insider noted that ‘Miley and Billy Ray are on the outs’ and that ‘Miley’s very close with her mom and is standing by her.’
The family dynamics became even more complicated after Billy Ray and Tish divorced last year, with their children reportedly ‘choosing sides’ in the aftermath.
Meanwhile, another source told People that Billy Ray’s daughter Noah has remained ‘very loyal’ to him. ‘She and Billy Ray have always had a really close relationship,’ the insider shared, adding that ‘their parents’ separation was really hard, but it was also long overdue.’
The Cyrus kids have also reportedly been divided over their parents’ new spouses. Billy Ray married Australian singer Firerose, while Tish tied the knot with Dominic Purcell last August, with Miley serving as her maid of honor.
Miley Cyrus chatted with David Letterman on his Netflix series
Cyrus is the daughter of Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus; pictured with her father in 2009
The nuptials were notably missing Noah and Braison, fueling speculation of a feud within the family.
Adding to the drama, reports surfaced that Noah was dating Purcell when Tish ‘started pursuing him,’ and she ‘was aware’ that he was with her daughter. A source told Us Weekly, ‘The turmoil between Noah and Tish goes far beyond [what people think]. Noah is very distraught over Tish stealing Dominic from her.’
However, another source has since refuted these claims, telling DailyMail.com that ‘Noah never dated Dominic and they were not together. She is delusional to think otherwise and is trying to create a narrative that will paint her as a victim.’
The interview comes amid rumored family drama and Billy Ray’s divorce from his third wife, Firerose.
Now, Billy Ray is making headlines again as he divorces Firerose after just seven months of marriage. The singer wed his third wife in October 2023 but filed for divorce in May 2024, citing irreconcilable differences and ‘inappropriate marital conduct’ as reasons for their split.
Cyrus is also requesting an annulment, alleging that he was fraudulently induced into the marriage. He has offered to cover Firerose’s temporary lodging and living expenses during their divorce proceedings.