Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus became an overnight sensation in 2006 as the star of Hannah Montana, a popular Disney Channel television series whose success allowed Cyrus to launch her own recording career several years later.

Overnight popularity wasn't a new thing for the Cyrus family; Miley's father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, went from obscurity to stardom in a few short months in 1992, when "Achy Breaky Heart" became a crossover hit.

The success of "Achy Breaky Heart" was hardly the only memorable event for Billy Ray that year, though, as he and his wife welcomed their daughter Destiny Hope Cyrus into the world on November 23, 1992.

Destiny's cheerful disposition as a child earned her the nickname Smiley, which stuck when it was shortened to Miley.

Miley's career as a professional actress began in 2003, when she appeared alongside her father in an episode of the television series Doc.

The same year, she landed a small role in the Tim Burton film Big Fish.

The budding actress had also developed an interest in writing songs and learning how to sing, and in 2005, she landed a role that allowed her to put her skills in acting and music to work.

Miley was cast in the title role of Hannah Montana, in which she played a teenage girl leading a double life: by day, she's Miley Stewart, an ordinary kid dealing with school, friends, siblings, and all the other foibles of life for a 14-year-old, while at night she dons a wig and becomes Hannah Montana, a multi-platinum pop star whose career is guided by her dad, songwriter Robby Stewart.

Miley's friends don't know she's also Hannah, however, and keeping this a secret is no simple matter.

After debuting in March 2006, Hannah Montana became an immediate success with young viewers and led to the release of a soundtrack CD in October, featuring Miley singing eight songs from the show along with five related tracks (including a duet with her father, Billy Ray, on "I Learned from You").

That fall, Miley hit the road as the opening act for another Disney-spawned pop act, the Cheetah Girls.

A reissue of the Hannah Montana album followed in March 2007, not long after the show's theme song, "The Best of Both Worlds," was released as a single.

A second Hannah Montana record, Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus, was released in summer 2007.

That fall, Cyrus embarked on the Best of Both Worlds tour, which stretched into early 2008 and was edited into The Best of Both Worlds Concert film, which was released that spring.

By then, Cyrus was busy recording Breakout, her first full-fledged album as herself, as well as shooting Hannah Montana: The Movie, which was slated for release the following year.

Breakout arrived in summer 2008.

It topped the Billboard charts and quickly went platinum, paving the way for an even more successful year in 2009.

Hannah Montana: The Movie was released that March and peaked at number one, while the soundtrack's lead single -- a country-pop ballad called "The Climb" -- became one of the year's most omnipresent songs, giving Miley her first multi-platinum hit.

A short album, The Time of Our Lives, arrived several months later and yielded another hit with "Party in the U.S.A.," which charted inside the Billboard Top Ten for 16 weeks.

Cyrus performed the song on the "Wonder World Tour," her first international tour, and also found time to film another movie, The Last Song, which hit theaters in 2010.

With acting assuming such a large role in her life, Cyrus announced her decision to take a hiatus from music -- but not before the release of her third album, Can't Be Tamed, which appeared that summer.

~ Mark Deming & Andrew Leahey, Rovi

Miley Cyrus' parents, Billy Ray Cyrus and wife Tish Cyrus, are to divorce after 17 years of marriage.

(BANG) -

Miley Cyrus' parents are to divorce.

Singer Billy Ray Cyrus and wife Tish Cyrus announced they have separated after 17 years of marriage and filed divorce papers this week citing "irreconcilable differences".

In a statement, they said: "As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family. We are trying to work through some personal matters. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers."

Friends say it was inevitable the couple - who have three children, 17-year-old Miley, Braison, 16, and 10-year-old Noah - would split but insist nobody else is involved.

One pal said: "It was a long time coming. It is the best thing for both of them."

Country singer Billy married Tish in December 1992 and as well as having three children together he adopted Tish's two children, Brandi and Trace, from her previous marriage.

He also has a son, Christopher, from his relationship with Kristen Luckey.

The family initially lived on a 500-acre farm near Nashville, Tennessee, before moving to Los Angeles following the success of Miley's TV show 'Hannah Montana', which Billy also appears in.

Miley Cyrus has reportedly got back together with ex-boyfriend Australian actor Liam Hemsworth.

(BANG) -

Miley Cyrus has reportedly reunited with former flame Liam Hemsworth.

The 17-year-old singer -and-actress - who split from her 'Last Song' co-star in August after 14 months of dating - was spotted running errands with the Australian actor in Los Angeles on Saturday (11.09.10).

An onlooker told People magazine: "Miley and Liam kept smiling and seemed to really enjoy their afternoon together. They acted like they had missed each other, kept chatting and seemed to be catching up. They definitely seemed like a couple again."

Pals claim that Miley - who has been filming 'LOL: Laughing Out Loud' in Paris, France - has relaxed more since reuniting with the 20-year-old star.

One source said: "Since Miley returned to Los Angeles from Europe earlier in the week, she has acted a bit tired and worn out. With Liam back in her life on Saturday, she acted totally different and, instead, seemed very happy. It looked like Miley and Liam had never been apart, and they were back into their old routine."

Friends of the star recently admitted while Miley is currently too focused on her career to have a relationship, they wouldn't rule out the couple reconciling in the future.

A pal explained: "Miley has been super focused on her work. Liam wanted more, but she's 17 and has other priorities right now. He's been a distraction.

"She is not ready to settle down, and Liam's not a happy camper. They're both young. To say they are done forever would be premature, but it's safe to say for now they are doing their own thing."

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have ended their year-long relationship after months of speculation they had split.

(BANG) -

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have split up.

The pair - who met when they shot family drama movie 'The Last Song' in 2009 - have broken up after more than a year of dating, representatives for the Australian actor have confirmed, with friends of the singer-and-actress claiming she is too focused on her career to have a relationship.

A source told E! Online: "Ever since she left for Detroit to film 'LOL: Laughing Out Loud', Miley has been super focused on her work. Liam wanted more, but she's 17 and has other priorities right now. He's been a distraction. Miley's not with anybody else.

"Liam visited her twice on the set and both visits were only about 24 hours in length, by Miley's choice. She is not ready to settle down, and Liam's not a happy camper. They're both young."

However, friends of the young stars have not ruled out a reconciliation in the future.

The source added: "To say they are done forever would be premature, but it's safe to say for now they are doing their own thing."

Speaking about their relationship earlier this year, Miley admitted their first kiss while filming 'The Last Song' made her realise she was interested in him romantically.

She said: "That kiss definitely triggered something. It triggered something in my head that made me realise this was going to be a lot of fun and it made me realise that one day you can feel bad and the next you can meet someone who is your soulmate or your best friend or whatever and that's really cool."