Daughter’s Tearful Tribute to Her Dad Will Restore Your Faith in Family

Quick Smiles:

• Famous daughter emotionally credits her father for protecting her childhood during early career
• Dad’s constant presence on set ensured she was never alone or vulnerable
• Twenty years later, she’s thriving and grateful for the family-first approach that shaped her life

Miley Cyrus and her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, have certainly had their ups and downs. It’s hard growing up in a family of celebrities, and the pressures of Hollywood can certainly make life even more difficult.

In March 2026, Miley Cyrus celebrated the 20th anniversary of her hit TV show Hannah Montana. The Disney Channel program launched Miley’s career into the stratosphere.

It’s an accomplishment that she credits in part to her father. She opened up about her dad during a March interview with Variety.

Miley Cyrus explained that her mom, Tish, encouraged her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, to audition for Hannah Montana. Tish wanted the family to move to Los Angeles together, and having her husband and daughter on the same show could make that happen.

“But my dad is too nice,” Miley told Variety.

“He goes out into the parking lot, grabs other dads, brings them into Disney and is like, ‘You should hire this guy! He’s a great actor!’ And my mom was behind him, squeezing his back, saying, ‘Shut up! We need you to get the role so we can all move out here!’”

They all moved, and Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus starred together on the show for four seasons as father and daughter. Billy Ray was there to protect his daughter and keep her safe, which brought young Miley comfort.

“My dad was on set every single day, so there was nothing that could happen that he wouldn’t know about,” she said.

“There was never a time where I was going to be alone in that dressing room.”

Miley’s changed a lot in 20 years, but she’s happier than ever.

“My relationship is private, my business is successful and I get to have the small things people take for granted, like waking up in my own bed and feeding my dogs,” Miley added.

Source