Miley Cyrus Reveals She Has Been Sober for Six Months

In a recent interview with Variety magazine, singer and actress Miley Cyrus revealed that she is six months sober. Cyrus made the decision to live a substance-free lifestyle around the same time that she underwent vocal cord surgery in November of last year.

At 27 years old, Cyrus has lived her entire life in the spotlight, growing up in a famous family. Her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, rose to stardom with his hit single “Achy Breaky Heart,” and Miley would later earn her turn in Hollywood as the star of Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana. 

Cyrus got her start on the Disney Channel at just 11 years old. Hannah Montana quickly became a household name across the United States, and the role allowed her to showcase both her acting and singing talents. From sold-out concerts to talk show appearances to branded Hannah Montana merchandise in every big-box store, Cyrus rapidly made a name of her own in show business.

As she grew older, Cyrus sought to explore more dramatic roles in film, and eventually met fellow actor Liam Hemsworth on the set of The Last Song. The pair hit it off instantly and later became engaged, when Cyrus was just 19.

Around the release of The Last Song, a video of Cyrus using salvia, a psychedelic herb, was leaked and widely publicized. Although Cyrus was 18 years old at the time—and the drug itself was legal in the state of California, where she resides—her position as a role model for young girls seemed to be in jeopardy.

In an interview with Billboard after the incident, Cyrus said, “I made a mistake … I’m disappointed in myself for disappointing my fans.”

Cyrus’ controversies didn’t stop there. As she continued to record albums and release new music, Cyrus’ content became less wholesome in nature—a far cry from the days of the Disney Channel. At the 2013 Video Music Awards, Cyrus debuted her now-famous song “We Can’t Stop” in a memorable performance alongside Robin Thicke.

Cyrus’ style evolved, though she also gained many new fans in the process, with many appreciating her new sound and edgier look. With each new album, Cyrus has continued to experiment with her musical style, ranging from rap and hip-hop influences to more of the country roots that fans associate with her famous dad.

Cyrus’ Relationship with Substances

In 2014, Cyrus stated in an interview with W magazine, that she “loves weed,” and “getting stoned.” Her relationship with recreational marijuana use was widely publicized, with Cyrus often sharing posts about the substance on social media and talking about it often during talk show appearances.

Cyrus quit smoking marijuana on several occasions, though in one particular instance, in 2018, she told The Sun that her mom, Tish, re-introduced her to smoking weed after she had sworn off of it for a time.

Today, Tish is celebrating her daughter’s accomplishment of sobriety, calling her “the cleanest person I know.”

Although her decision to become sober was initially motivated by her surgery, Cyrus stated that her choice became more personal as she looked inward.

“My dad’s parents divorced when he was 3, so my dad raised himself. I did a lot of family history, which has a lot of addiction and mental health challenges. So just going through that and asking, ‘Why am I the way that I am?’ By understanding the past, we understand the present and the future much more clearly. I think therapy is great,” she told Variety.

At just 27 years old, Cyrus knows all too well the stigmas associated with being sober, with many believing that substances make a person more “fun.”

“It’s really hard because especially being young, there’s that stigma of ‘You’re no fun,’ ” she told the outlet. “It’s like, ‘Honey, you can call me a lot of things, but I know that I’m fun.’ The thing that I love about it is waking up 100 percent, 100 percent of the time. I don’t want to wake up feeling groggy. I want to wake up feeling ready,” she added in the interview.

Now producing a talk show on Instagram Live and continuing to share resources that advocate for social justice and equal rights, Cyrus is a role model to many. As she steps into a sober lifestyle, we applaud her for her efforts—a reminder that sober is, in fact, the new chic.