Billy Ray Cyrus congratulates Miley on her engagement to Maxx Morando after years of estrangement

The long-standing rift between Miley Cyrus and her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, appears to be mended, as the country star publicly congratulated his daughter on her engagement to musician Maxx Morando.

The joyous news of Miley’s upcoming wedding comes after years of public speculation and noticeable distance between the father-daughter duo, stemming largely from the fallout of Billy Ray’s 2022 divorce from Miley’s mother, Tish Cyrus.

Billy Ray’s heartfelt social media post marks a significant turning point in the family’s complex dynamic, suggesting that communication and peace have finally returned to the Cyrus clan. Miley, a three-time Grammy winner, confirmed her engagement after stepping out with Morando on the red carpet, proudly showcasing a stunning diamond ring.

Let’s dive into the details of the engagement, the reconciliation, and what’s next for the happy couple.

What Did Billy Ray Cyrus Say About the Engagement?

Billy Ray Cyrus shared a sweet, heartfelt tribute to his daughter and her new fiancé on Instagram just days after the engagement news broke.

The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer posted a series of photos, including a throwback of himself and Miley with her godmother, Dolly Parton, and more recent shots of the engaged couple. He made his feelings clear in the accompanying caption, writing, “So happy you and MaxxAgazillion found each other!!!! Congratulations! Happy to see you both so happy!!! love Dad ❤️.”

He tagged Dolly Parton in the message, adding, “No wonder you turned out so special You have the greatest Godmother in the world!!!” Billy Ray’s use of the affectionate nickname “MaxxAgazillion” suggests he has fully embraced his future son-in-law. The public declaration of love and support from Billy Ray is a major sign that the father and daughter have successfully reconciled.

What Caused the Estrangement Between Miley and Billy Ray?

The primary source of the recent father-daughter estrangement was the aftermath of Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus’s 2022 divorce.

After nearly 30 years of on-again, off-again marriage, Tish filed for divorce in April 2022, citing “irreconcilable differences” and stating they hadn’t lived together for over two years. A major source of tension was Miley’s feeling that her father had shown disrespect to her mother and the family.

Sources close to the family at the time confirmed that Miley struggled to move past the hurt she felt on her mother’s behalf. Miley was noticeably absent in her father’s life as he quickly moved on to marry Australian singer Firerose, and Billy Ray wasn’t mentioned in Miley’s 2024 Grammy acceptance speeches. This silence fueled years of rumors about a deep family rift, with several of the Cyrus children seemingly picking sides.

How Did Miley and Billy Ray Reconcile?

Miley and her father began to mend their relationship earlier this year, largely thanks to a unique and personal olive branch extended through music.

Miley revealed to the New York Times in a May interview that as she’s gotten older, she has learned to respect her parents as individuals rather than just as a “parental pairing.” She acknowledged, “I took on some of my mom’s hurt as my own because it hurt her more than it hurt me as an adult.”

The turning point was a song called “Secrets,” which Miley wrote and gifted to her father for his birthday, performed with Fleetwood Mac. Miley explained that they communicate better through song, saying, “We didn’t feel that there needed to be a whole conversation.” The emotional gesture, which reportedly brought Billy Ray to tears, signaled a peaceful path forward for the father and daughter.

When Did Miley Cyrus Get Engaged to Maxx Morando?

Miley Cyrus, 33, became engaged to her longtime musician boyfriend, Maxx Morando, 27, in late 2025, after approximately four years of dating.

The exciting news first broke after the couple walked the red carpet at the world premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash in Los Angeles on December 1st. Miley was seen proudly displaying a massive, custom-made diamond ring on her left hand, which instantly sparked major speculation.

The news was confirmed a day later by sources close to the couple. The cushion-cut diamond is set on a thick, 14-karat yellow gold band, a bespoke design from Jacquie Aiche. Miley later confirmed that the proposal was a complete surprise, saying she had “completely surrendered” control, which is rare for her.

Who is Miley’s Fiancé, Maxx Morando?

Maxx Morando is an American musician, producer, and the drummer for the rock band Liily.

Before joining Liily, he was the drummer for the band The Regrettes. Morando is a respected figure in the music scene and has also collaborated with his now-fiancée on several of her recent musical projects, showing their creative connection runs deep.

The couple was first romantically linked in late 2021 after being spotted cozying up backstage during Miley’s NBC holiday special, Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party. Miley shared in a 2023 interview that they were set up on a blind date, joking that it was “blind for me and not really for him.”

Sources suggest Morando has been a calming and grounding presence in the singer’s life, a major factor that has endeared him to her family and friends.

What’s Next for the Newly Engaged Couple?

Miley and Maxx are expected to continue focusing on their careers and private life, with wedding plans likely to be kept under wraps.

Miley is currently celebrating her engagement and the success of her recent music, all while working on an exciting 20th-anniversary celebration for Hannah Montana. Fans and family are thrilled to see the former Disney star so happy and grounded, especially now that the family feud appears to be over.

The engagement is a beautiful capstone to a year of personal healing and professional triumph for Miley. The public reconciliation with her father adds an extra layer of sweetness to this already joyous new chapter. Seeing the Cyrus family heal and come together to celebrate Miley’s happiness truly warms the hearts of fans everywhere.

TL;DR

• Miley Cyrus is engaged to her boyfriend of four years, musician Maxx Morando.
• She confirmed the engagement after showing off a custom Jacquie Aiche cushion-cut diamond ring on a thick gold band.
• Billy Ray Cyrus publicly congratulated the couple on Instagram, using the nickname “MaxxAgazillion” for his future son-in-law.
• The congratulatory post signals a major reconciliation between Miley and her father after a years-long estrangement following her parents’ 2022 divorce.
• Miley recently confirmed she and Billy Ray were on better terms, having mended their rift through communication via music, including a song she wrote for him called “Secrets.”
• Miley has praised Morando for treating her with respect and being a grounding, private presence in her life.

If you liked this, don’t forget to follow us for more news and stories like this one.

If you liked this, you might also like:

Fans crown Miley Cyrus’ ‘Dream as One’ as this week’s top track

Miley Cyrus opens up engagement to Maxx Morando, left her “Astounded”

This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.