Late last year, Miley Cyrus told fans she was heading into 2025 ready to “move on and start anew”, hinting she had been doing some healing while working on a new album.
“This is one of my favourite parts of not just the creative process but the way life has chosen to teach me,” the 32-year-old shared on Instagram. “At times it can be a heartbreaking process but I’ve always known the pieces to come back together and create something beautiful.”
And beauty she has created, with the singer set to release her forthcoming ninth studio album, the aptly titled Something Beautiful, on May 30. “It’s a concept album that’s an attempt to medicate somewhat of a sick culture through music,” she explained to Harper’s Bazaar earlier this year of the “hypnotising and glamorous” project.
Exploring themes of healing, transformation and finding beauty in the darkness, Cyrus has said she wants her new music to not just entertain listeners, but to help them heal. “I would like to be a human psychedelic for people,” she continued. “I don’t want anyone trying to be like me or imitate me or even be inspired by me. I want to impact frequencies in your body that make you vibrate at a different level.”
It’s evident the singer has been on her own healing journey of late. On May 10, Cyrus revealed “bridges have been built” between herself and dad Billy Ray – after admitting they’ve had their “challenges over the years”. “Time has done a lot of healing,” she noted on Instagram as she put to rest rumours of a rift within her family.
That also seems to be the case when it comes to her divorce from Liam Hemsworth. During a Q&A at a Spotify event for her new album on May 6, Cyrus divulged that the wildfires that destroyed her and her ex-husband’s home in November 2018 – and that ultimately led to the end of their decade-long, on-off relationship the following year – was “the biggest blessing”.
“Losing everything and being able to rebuild and to be able to be purposeful and choose every piece that I’m going to collect or also just about the people in my life,” she gave as reasons why she viewed the tragedy in a positive light. “When my house burned down, a lot of my relationships also burned down. And that, again, just led me to such magic and to have so much gratitude.”
The new album has also given Cyrus the chance to again work with her boyfriend of three years, drummer Maxx Morando, 26 – a collaboration she says comes naturally. “I worked with my dad forever. That’s how me and my ex-husband met each other. I’ve always worked with the people that I love,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. “And Maxx just inspires me so much.”
With the album being accompanied by a musical film of the same name, premiering on June 6 at the Tribeca Film Festival, the singer admits she’s ready to usher in a whole new chapter.
“I’m excited for my younger self to really experience this entire era because it has to start with me for it to be for you,” Cyrus said at the Spotify event. “This album has to start with me loving it, and then the love that I have for it, whether you know it or not, is going to be coming through the speakers.
“When you’re listening, you’re going to feel this fulfillment that I have,” she added. “I’m excited for you to hear it but also for the person who never thought they would get to make this album to hear it, too, which is me.”
