You’ve seen the headlines. You’ve probably seen the "shady" Grammy speeches where certain names were left out. But honestly, if you’re asking who is miley cyrus mother, you’re looking for more than just a name on a birth certificate. You’re looking for the woman who navigated the shark-infested waters of Disney Channel stardom, survived a very public thirty-year marriage collapse, and somehow ended up marrying a Prison Break star in a wedding that looked like a Pinterest board come to life.
Her name is Tish Cyrus. Or, more accurately these days, Tish Cyrus-Purcell.
She isn't just a "momager" in the Kris Jenner sense, though she definitely manages the careers of her daughters. She is the glue. Sometimes, as the tabloids would have you believe, she’s also the lightning rod for a family dynamic that is, well, messy.
The Woman Behind the "Wrecking Ball"
Leticia "Tish" Jean Finley was born in 1967 in Kentucky. She wasn't born into royalty. She met Billy Ray Cyrus before "Achy Breaky Heart" exploded, back when he was just a guy with a mullet and a dream. They had Miley (born Destiny Hope Cyrus) in 1992 and got married a year later.
For decades, Tish was the quiet force in the background. While Billy Ray was the face of the family, Tish was the one in the production meetings. She produced The Last Song—yeah, the movie where Miley met Liam Hemsworth. She’s behind the Backyard Sessions. She’s the one who stayed when things got weird.
But recently, the "quiet force" has become the main character.
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That Wedding and the Noah Cyrus "Love Triangle" Rumors
If you want to understand who Tish is today, you have to look at August 2023. Tish married actor Dominic Purcell in a gorgeous Malibu ceremony. Miley was the maid of honor. It looked perfect.
Except two people were missing: Noah and Braison Cyrus.
The internet basically imploded. Rumors started flying that Tish had "stolen" Dominic from her own daughter, Noah. People claimed Noah and Dominic had been "seeing each other" before Tish entered the picture. It sounds like a plot from a soap opera, right?
In reality, the family has been pretty tight-lipped about the specifics, though Miley recently described the last few years as a "dark decade" for the clan. On a podcast with Monica Lewinsky in mid-2025, Miley admitted that half the family wasn't speaking to each other at one point. They didn't go to therapy—Miley joked they were "too messy" for that—but they eventually called a truce. Tish has since been seen supporting Noah’s career again, and Noah even posted birthday wishes for her mom recently, so it looks like the "white flag" has been raised.
Why Tish Is More Than Just a Manager
Most people think being a celebrity mom is just about red carpets and designer bags. For Tish, it was about survival.
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She recently opened up about a "year from hell" following the death of her mother, Loretta, and her divorce from Billy Ray. She wasn't functioning. She was down to 103 pounds. She was struggling with crippling anxiety.
Miley actually stepped in to help her mom heal, recommending books like The Body Keeps the Score and encouraging her to try therapy. It’s a weird role reversal. The daughter who the world thought was "out of control" during the Bangerz era became the emotional anchor for the mother who had spent 30 years protecting her.
Tish’s Career Highlights (Outside of Being Mom)
- Hopetown Entertainment: Tish is the president of this production company. They aren't just doing Miley projects; they’re developing scripted shows and unscripted content for NBCU.
- Interior Design: She co-hosted Cyrus vs. Cyrus: Design and Conquer on Bravo. Turns out, she’s actually really good at flipping houses.
- Cannabis Advocacy: Tish has been very open about using "plant medicine" to manage her anxiety, a far cry from her earlier, more conservative "country wife" persona.
- Podcast Queen: She co-hosts Sorry We’re Cyrus with her eldest daughter, Brandi. It’s where most of the real family tea actually gets spilled.
The "Unfollow" Incident of 2025
Just when everyone thought the drama was over, Tish "unfollowed" Miley on Instagram in early 2025. The "Cyrus Sleuths" on TikTok lost their minds. Was there a new rift? Did Miley hate Dominic?
Miley had to jump on Instagram Stories to clear it up. Basically? Tish is just bad at technology. Like your aunt who accidentally "likes" a photo from 2012, Tish accidentally hit the unfollow button while trying to navigate her phone. Miley called her "mama" her best friend and told everyone to go touch grass.
Where Things Stand Now
As of early 2026, the Cyrus family is in a "rebuilding" phase. Billy Ray has moved on (and had his own share of messy splits), and Tish is settled into her life with Dominic.
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Miley’s new album, Something Beautiful, actually features songs inspired by her relationship with Tish. One track, "End of the World," was written because Miley felt a literal sense of panic when Tish went on a one-week vacation to Italy. That’s how close they are. It’s a deep, sometimes co-dependent, but ultimately fierce bond.
So, who is Miley Cyrus's mother? She’s a woman who reinvented herself at 56. She’s a producer who knows how to pivot. She’s a survivor of the Nashville machine who decided she wanted a life on her own terms in Malibu.
If you're looking to understand the "Cyrus Brand," stop looking at the singers. Look at the woman in the wings. To get a real sense of their dynamic, you should listen to the Sorry We're Cyrus podcast episodes from late 2025—it's the most unfiltered version of Tish you'll ever get. You'll see she's not a villain or a saint; she's just a mom trying to keep a very loud family from falling apart.
To stay updated on the latest family shifts, keep an eye on Tish’s production credits at Hopetown Entertainment, as she’s currently moving more into executive roles that don't involve her children at all.