Billy Ray Cyrus shares message after Miley Cyrus confirms engagement to Maxx Morando

Billy Ray Cyrus congratulates Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando on their engagement reflecting on recent estrangement

Billy Ray Cyrus has publicly congratulated his daughter Miley Cyrus following her announcement that she is engaged to musician Maxx Morando.

The country singer shared a series of photos on Instagram on Tuesday, including an old image of Miley with her godmother Dolly Parton, as he offered his wishes to the couple.

Cyrus wrote: “No wonder you turned out so special … You have the greatest Godmother in the world!!! So happy you and MaxxAgazillion found each other!!!! Congratulations! Happy to see you both so happy!!! love Dad.”

The engagement was confirmed by Miley during an appearance on Good Morning America on Wednesday, after speculation began when she was photographed wearing a diamond ring at the premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash on Monday. She and Morando have been together for four years.

Billy Ray’s message comes after a period of estrangement, which Miley referenced in her song “Secrets”. In September, she described the track as “a peace offering for someone I had lost for a time but always loved,” crediting Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood for their contribution to the music. She added, “This song is for my dad.”

The lyrics explore themes of conflict and reconciliation, with lines such as: “Hero/ Can I be your hero?/ Call off all your forces/ A white flag in the war,” and “Love is not a prison/ I'm not a guard.”

Miley previously addressed speculation about her family relationships in a May Instagram Story. She dismissed claims of tension with her mother, saying they remained close. She also commented on assumptions about her relationship with her father, which intensified after she did not mention him in her 2024 Grammys speech.

She explained that although they had faced “challenges,” they were no longer in conflict, writing: “In my thirties, family is my priority above all else… time has done a lot of healing.”