Miley Cyrus said goodbye to her godmother this week. Her own career has already run 20 years, five No. 1 albums and one Record of the Year.
Dolly Parton, her godmother since birth, died on 25 August at 80. Cyrus posted a tribute on Wednesday: "I will always love her and want to make her proud."
She auditioned for Hannah Montana at 13 and won the lead. The Disney Channel series ran four seasons, from 2006 to 2011, and made her a global name.
Three of her soundtracks topped the Billboard 200: Hannah Montana 2 in 2007, then the Hannah Montana movie album and Hannah Montana 3 in 2009.
Breakout was her first album released as Miley Cyrus rather than Hannah. It debuted at No. 1 — proof the audience had followed the person, not the wig.
The Wonder World Tour took her outside North America for the first time. That same year Party in the U.S.A. arrived and peaked at No. 2 on the Hot 100.
Can't Be Tamed was the clean break from Disney — darker pop and a deliberately grown-up image. The series itself wrapped a year later, in 2011.
Bangerz debuted at No. 1 and Wrecking Ball became her first Hot 100 chart-topper. The Bangerz Tour that followed was pure, unapologetic spectacle.
Younger Now pulled her back towards country roots, with Parton featuring on Rainbowland. Then Plastic Hearts swerved again in 2020, straight into rock.
Flowers spent eight weeks at No. 1 and was 2023's best-selling single. It won Record of the Year in 2024 — her first Grammys, after nearly two decades.
From a Disney wig to a Record of the Year, Cyrus has rebuilt herself every few years. Her 2025 visual album Something Beautiful was the latest turn.