Miley Cyrus is making a surprisingly simple change that could signal a much bigger artistic shift. As she prepares to release her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, the Grammy-winning singer has started presenting herself publicly as “Miley” — leaving the famous “Cyrus” surname out of her social-media identity.

The timing is hard to miss. After teasing the change on August 31, Cyrus confirmed the album’s title and September 18, 2026 release date through Atlantic Records, setting up what looks increasingly like a carefully planned new chapter.

Miley isn’t the only star quietly unveiling a whole new side of themselves — Tom Hardy has been sitting on a secret rap persona named Frankie Pulitzer, and it just got a full album. For more, check out our look at Tom Hardy’s secret rap persona Frankie Pulitzer and his surprise Czarface collaboration album.

Why Miley Cyrus Is Now Going by “Miley” on Social Media

The first clue arrived on August 31, when Cyrus appeared to strip her surname from her social-media branding. Her Instagram handle changed to @miley, while “Cyrus” was also removed from her bio.

Then came a single-word post:

“MILEY”

That was enough to send fans into speculation mode about whether the singer was preparing to reinvent herself professionally.

The answer became clearer just one day later when she officially announced Bass Persuades, her upcoming 10th studio album. Multiple reports now describe the shortened “Miley” identity as part of the new era.

There is one important distinction, though: the social-media change does not establish that Cyrus has legally changed her name. At this stage, it is best understood as a professional and branding decision.

A stripped-down name isn’t the only way a star can look unrecognizable in a new era — Glenn Close’s Hunger Games transformation left even her own co-star Elle Fanning doing a double take. For more, read our look at Glenn Close’s terrifying Hunger Games transformation into Drusilla Sickle and Elle Fanning’s reaction.

Bass Persuades Release Date, Atlantic Records Debut and Tracklist

Bass Persuades is scheduled to arrive on September 18, 2026, through Atlantic Records, marking Cyrus’ first album under the label.

Apple Music currently lists the project as a pre-release and identifies it as her 10th studio album. The listing currently contains 11 songs, although the final tracklist could still change before release.

Official detail	Current information
Album	Bass Persuades
Artist	Miley Cyrus
Studio album	10th
Release date	September 18, 2026
Label	Atlantic Records
Songs currently listed	11 (The official Miley store, however, currently lists the album with 10 tracks.)
Featured artists currently listed	Model/Actriz, Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow

The currently listed songs are “Bass Persuades,” “Different Religion” (feat. Model/Actriz), “Let’s Get Married,” “Orbit,” “Aftermath,” “REDLIGHTS,” “Neon Signs” (feat. Andrew Wyatt of Miike Snow), “Innocent Ways,” “Snow,” “Bass Persuades Remixx,” plus an additional track currently listed on Apple Music.

Because the album remains unreleased, its tracklist should be checked against Cyrus’ official channels immediately before publication in case Atlantic or the artist makes updates.

A release date isn’t always set in stone once it’s announced — Kehlani just had to push back an entire run of world tour dates after a sudden hospitalization. For more, dive into our report on Kehlani’s hospitalization with severe pain and the world tour dates she’s rescheduled.

Miley Cyrus Says Bass Persuades Is a “Love Story”

Interestingly, the album’s emotional direction was revealed before its title.

In a July 27 Wonderland interview with actress Daryl Hannah, Cyrus described her 10th album as an intensely personal project built around love, personal growth and the different ways love can exist.

“This album is a love story, but love stories are never one-dimensional. They’re always layered. There is definitely a romantic thread weaving through it because, like all my records, it’s a reflection of where I am in my life. But this one feels especially meaningful because this feeling has stayed with me through multiple eras.”

Cyrus explained that the record explores not only romantic love but also the relationship she has developed with herself.

“That’s something I hadn’t really experienced before. A peaceful kind of love has become a theme across my last three records. Not just the love I share with someone else, but the love I’ve found for myself.”

She also connected that personal growth to her relationships:

“Once your relationship with yourself changes, every relationship around you changes too. I think this record celebrates both of those equally.”

Cyrus isn’t the only star quietly celebrating love and growth behind the scenes — Michael Strahan reportedly welcomed his fifth child, a baby girl with Kayla Quick, keeping the news almost entirely private. For more, check out our report on Michael Strahan and Kayla Quick reportedly welcoming a baby girl and why they kept it private.

The Unforced Creative Process Behind Miley’s 10th Album

Cyrus says the making of Bass Persuades felt noticeably different from her previous records. Rather than forcing the project into shape as she went, she began with a clear tracklist, sound and concept.

“This one was different. It was organic and really unforced. Something that was super helpful this time was I started with the tracklist and never veered from it. I knew it would be 10 songs. I roughly knew the sound and the concept. That gave me a really strong compass without making the process feel forced.”

At the time of the Wonderland interview, the album had not yet been officially announced. Cyrus had already sent Hannah three tracks, describing the creative process as “uniquely fluid.”

She also had the visual world in mind surprisingly early.

“I knew the colour would be red. I knew I’d be in a leather hat. I knew the frame of the imagery.”

Cyrus brought stylist and creative director Alastair McKimm into the visual process, describing creative collaboration as a “dance” where artists need to understand when to lead and when to follow.

Cyrus isn’t the only one putting in unusual work to get a new project right — Adria Arjona has been training hard for a secret DCU role in Man of Tomorrow, building “muscles I’ve never had in my life.” For more, read our look at Adria Arjona’s secret DCU role in Man of Tomorrow and the training behind it.

Love, Maxx Morando and the Meaning Behind the New Music

The album’s focus on love also arrives during Cyrus’ relationship with musician Maxx Morando, to whom she became engaged in 2025.

Discussing the musicians involved in the record, including Morando, Cyrus emphasized that songwriting for her is about much more than traditional musical structure.

“Musicianship, writing, and storytelling through music are all integral to how these songs are built. For me, a song isn’t just chords, melody, and lyrics. It’s a feeling. It’s not right or wrong like an answer. It’s alive.”

She added:

“It almost becomes its own little entity that tells you what it needs if you’re listening. I love making records with people who aren’t precious about ideas. Everyone is there because they’re excited by the same thing. There’s no ego in the room when it’s working. Just curiosity.”

For Cyrus, love itself is similarly difficult to reduce to logic:

“Love is dynamic and complex. It’s something we can feel deeply with our heart even if we can’t always explain it with our minds. To me, love isn’t something we have to intellectualise. It’s a cellular understanding.”

From Something Beautiful to a Completely New Miley Cyrus Era

Bass Persuades follows Cyrus’ ninth studio album, Something Beautiful, released in May 2025.

But the transition is bigger than another album cycle. In March 2026, Cyrus revisited one of the most recognisable chapters of her career by releasing “Younger You” for the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.

Now, instead of leaning into an established Miley Cyrus identity, she is introducing the next phase simply as Miley.

That shift also connects with what she told Wonderland about growing more forgiving toward herself after years of being defined by public expectations.

“Taken it easier on myself. I was so young, and sometimes I believed other people’s ideas of me were my own. You spend enough time hearing who you’re supposed to be that you can accidentally lose your own voice for a while. Through my evolution I’ve found a lot more forgiveness and softness.”

Not every artist’s next chapter goes off without a hitch — Tim McGraw showed up 40 minutes late to a Cincinnati show and then took a hard fall on stage. For more, check out our report on Tim McGraw’s delayed Cincinnati show and the on-stage fall that followed.

Miley Cyrus Hollywood Bowl Shows Set for October 2026

The new era will not stay confined to streaming platforms.

Cyrus has announced two Hollywood Bowl performances in Los Angeles for October 16 and October 18, 2026, with Model/Actriz as the special guest.

The shows are scheduled less than a month after Bass Persuades arrives, giving Cyrus the opportunity to bring her new material directly to the stage. Reports describe the concerts as her first major live performances in several years, adding another major moment to the album rollout.

For now, the timeline looks like this:

Date	Event
August 31, 2026	Cyrus teases the new era with “MILEY” and changes her social-media branding
September 18, 2026	Bass Persuades releases via Atlantic Records
October 16, 2026	Hollywood Bowl performance
October 18, 2026	Second Hollywood Bowl performance

Cyrus isn’t the only act about to take over a major venue — Chris Brown and Usher’s upcoming Levi’s Stadium shows are already reshaping traffic around Santa Clara. For more, read our look at the road closures and transit changes ahead of Chris Brown and Usher’s Levi’s Stadium shows.

Is “Miley” Really a New Identity?

For now, there is no confirmed legal name change. What is clear is that Cyrus has chosen to make Miley the face of this particular chapter.

After two decades of growing up in public, Bass Persuades appears positioned as something more personal, softer and deliberately self-directed. The album is rooted in love and self-growth, while the stripped-down branding suggests an artist increasingly comfortable with letting the music — rather than the full famous name — do the talking.

Whether “Miley” becomes a permanent professional identity or remains tied specifically to this album era, the message is already unmistakable: a new chapter is beginning on September 18.

Disclaimer: This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the verified information provided, including current official music listings, Miley Cyrus’ published Wonderland interview and relevant reporting available as of September 2, 2026. The “Miley” social-media change is described only as a professional/branding development and does not claim that she has legally changed her name. Bass Persuades and its tracklist remain subject to updates before the September 18 release, so official artist and label channels should be consulted for the latest information.

Sources:

• Los Angeles Times report 
• Pitchfork report 
• Apple Music album listing 
• View the Spotify album listing and tracklist 

Featured Image Credit: Raph_PH / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0