When Hannah Montana hit Disney Channel in 2006, Miley Cyrus became an instant star. She was America’s teen sweetheart, juggling school, pop stardom, and a secret double life onscreen. However, Miley’s real life has been far from simple.
Here’s a look at some of the roughest curveballs life’s thrown at her and how she’s kept going.
1. Her Parents’ Rollercoaster Marriage
Miley’s parents, Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus, had a tumultuous relationship that lasted for decades. They first separated in 2010, reconciled, split again in 2013, and finally decided to end their marriage permanently in 2022. That unstable relationship cannot be beneficial for their children. Miley was already an adult by the final breakup but still struggled with her parents’ pain. In 2025, she told The New York Times she carried her mom’s pain as her own but now feels she can love both her parents as individuals.
2. Her Whole “Bangerz” Era Was a Mistake
In 2013, Miley Cyrus made headlines with her bold “Bangerz” era, marked by edgy performances, daring fashion choices, and her now-iconic appearance in the “Wrecking Ball” music video. While it gave her artistic freedom, Miley admitted the period left her feeling embarrassed and isolated. On the Reclaiming podcast, she said her behavior cost her relationships, including her engagement to Liam Hemsworth, and even made it hard to look her dad in the eye.
3. Losing Her Malibu Home to Wildfire
In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire destroyed Miley’s Malibu house she shared with Liam Hemsworth. Though she’s since rebuilt her life, she’s said the loss changed her. Recently, she reflected that losing her fancy house and a few toxic relationships was ultimately a blessing that taught her gratitude and gave her a fresh start.
4. Battling Anxiety and Depression
Growing up in the spotlight had a significant impact on Miley’s mental health. During Hannah Montana, she’d suffer anxiety attacks so bad she’d almost faint. She’s also opened up about deep depression, telling Elle in 2014 that she once locked herself in her room until her dad broke down the door. While she prefers not to rely on medication, sometimes it’s the only thing that can help.
5. Relapsing During the Pandemic
Miley’s music has been synonymous with partying and wild nights, but by 2019, she started her sobriety journey. However, she slipped during the pandemic lockdowns, telling Zane Lowe that isolation triggered a relapse. She’s been open about her struggles with moderation, saying she doesn’t have a problem with drinking itself but with the impulsive choices she makes once she crosses a certain line. And we’ve all been there.
6. Mourning Her Grandmother
Among Miley’s many painful losses, one of the hardest was the death of her beloved grandmother, Loretta “Mammie” Finley, in 2020. Miley called her “the fiercest person I know” and promised in a touching Instagram tribute to keep her grandmother’s spirit alive by treating people kindly and doing good for others.
7. Suffering a Ruptured Ovarian Cyst
While co-hosting NBC’s New Year’s Eve special in 2023, Miley pushed through a terrifying health crisis. Later, she revealed on The Zane Lowe Show that she was performing while experiencing a ruptured ovarian cyst, a condition that, while often not life-threatening, is often incredibly painful. She said she didn’t even realize what was happening to her body until afterward. The adrenaline must have been overwhelming.
8. Living With a Vocal Disorder
Over the years, fans have noticed Miley’s voice getting raspier. That’s partly due to Reinke’s edema, a vocal cord condition she discovered after a bout of tonsillitis in 2019. She needed surgery and weeks of silence to recover. Although it affects her singing, Miley has chosen not to have the surgery because she believes that having a slightly raspier voice is preferable to the risk of losing her fan base.
9. A Knee Infection From the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2024, Miley filmed a music video on the famously grimy Hollywood Walk of Fame. Unfortunately, she picked up something nasty. By Thanksgiving, she was in the ICU with an infection so severe it started eating away at her knee. On Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2025, she joked about how even the surgeon was disgusted by how her leg looked. The question is: what exactly caused it, and why is that Walk of Fame so disgusting?