Miley Cyrus Opens Up On Engagement To Maxx Morando—And Second Ring After 8-Month Marriage

A cushion-cut diamond caught the Hollywood lights at the Avatar: Fire and Ash world premiere on December 1, 2025, sending shockwaves through social media. Miley Cyrus glided across the Dolby Theatre’s red carpet in a strapless black Gucci gown, her left hand unmistakably adorned with an approximately four-carat engagement ring set in thick 14-karat yellow gold. 

The pop icon had just confirmed what millions of her followers had been speculating about for months: she was engaged to musician Maxx Morando, the drummer for the Los Angeles-based rock band Liily.

The Ring That Started It All

Jacquie Aiche, the Los Angeles-based jewelry designer who has created signature pieces for celebrities like Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift, crafted Cyrus’s custom engagement ring. The ring features an elongated cushion-cut diamond set in an east-west setting—a bold, modern design choice that experts say perfectly captures the 2025 engagement ring trend. 

The 14-karat yellow gold band boasts a distinctive bombe shape, a rounded, slightly dome-like silhouette that jewelers describe as “rock and roll, cool, and modern, while still reading as very bridal.” 

Cyrus Breaks Silence on Good Morning America

Within days of the premiere reveal, Miley Cyrus opened up about her engagement in an exclusive interview with “Good Morning America,” which aired on December 3, 2025. The Grammy-winning artist beamed as she confirmed the news and revealed intimate details about Maxx Morando’s surprise proposal. 

“I am not easy to surprise, because I love to control every situation. And I had completely surrendered,” she told ABC News’ Chris Connelly, her voice brimming with genuine emotion and joy about the unexpected moment.

A Proposal in Japan: The Story Behind the Sparkle

Cyrus explained that Morando orchestrated an unforgettable proposal during a recent trip to Japan, getting down on one knee in a moment that completely caught her off guard. The singer revealed that she had intentionally never visited Japan before, wanting to save one special place in the world for herself. 

“I actually had never gone to Japan, which I did for that purposefully. I wanted one place in the world that could be the special place that I saved for me,” Cyrus shared with remarkable candor. 

Four Years of Growing Together

According to Cyrus, her relationship with Morando has been transformative. “Max and I have been together for four years, and it’s very obvious the drastic amount of growth that I’ve had in those four years,” she revealed during the GMA interview. The pop sensation emphasized that much of her personal development stemmed directly from having “a great partner” by her side. 

Cyrus highlighted the importance of having “someone by your side that always tells you you can do it,” describing the emotional support and encouragement that Morando provides as instrumental to her success and well-being over the past four years.

How They Met: A Blind Date Story

Cyrus and Morando were first romantically linked in December 2021, but their official relationship began in April 2022, as evidenced by photos showing them sharing passionate kisses in West Hollywood. In a 2023 interview with British Vogue, Cyrus revealed the charming origin story of their romance. 

“We got put on a blind date. Well, it was blind for me and not really for him,” she recounted with humor. 

The Musician Behind the Proposal: Who Is Maxx Morando?

Maxx Morando, 27, is a talented Los Angeles-born musician and drummer who has made significant contributions to the rock music scene. He is best known for his work as the drummer for The Regrettes, a Los Angeles-based rock band with whom he recorded their debut album “Feel Your Feelings Fool!” in 2017. 

Morando currently plays drums for the experimental rock band Liily, known for unconventional rhythms and energetic stage performances. 

Creative Collaboration: Making Music Together

Beyond their romantic relationship, Cyrus and Morando have established themselves as creative partners in the studio. Morando contributed significantly to multiple tracks on Cyrus’s 2023 album “Endless Summer Vacation,” producing “Handstand” and co-producing “Violet Chemistry.” 

He expanded his creative involvement on her recent album “Something Beautiful,” helping to produce and write several songs that showcase their combined artistic vision. 

Why Maxx Matters: Understanding the Connection

According to sources close to the couple who spoke to Us Weekly, “Miley never envisioned herself marrying again, but Maxx has transformed her perspective entirely.” This statement encapsulates how profoundly Morando has influenced Cyrus’s outlook on love, commitment, and marriage. 

After her painful eight-month marriage to Liam Hemsworth ended in 2019, Cyrus had apparently resigned herself to the idea that another marriage simply wasn’t in her future. 

Lessons from the Liam Hemsworth Era

Cyrus has been remarkably transparent about what she learned from her previous relationship with actor Liam Hemsworth, whom she met on the set of “The Last Song” in 2009. The couple maintained an on-again, off-again relationship spanning a decade before marrying on December 23, 2018. 

Their marriage lasted just eight months before Hemsworth filed for divorce in August 2019, citing “irreconcilable differences.” 

The Breaking Point: When Cyrus Realized It Wouldn’t Work

In a September 2025 interview, Cyrus revealed the exact moment she knew her marriage to Hemsworth could not continue. She explained that during the 2019 Glastonbury festival in June, she recognized that while their commitment came from a place of love and their shared ten-year history, it also stemmed from trauma. 

“The day of the concert was the moment I decided that being in that relationship was no longer feasible for my life,” she disclosed. 

Moving Forward: Cyrus’s Perspective on Her Past

Despite the painful dissolution of her marriage to Hemsworth, Cyrus has expressed no regrets about their time together. She told British Vogue in 2023, “I wouldn’t want to erase my narrative or have it erased. 

An interesting life leads to compelling storytelling.” This mature perspective reflects her ability to extract meaning and wisdom from difficult experiences. 

Age Gap and Modern Love: Why Age Doesn’t Matter

The couple’s six-year age difference has never been an issue for either party. In a November 2024 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Cyrus discussed their dynamic with refreshing honesty. She explained that the age gap actually works wonderfully for them because they “just don’t take life too seriously.” 

Cyrus noted that Morando “looks at life really differently” than she does, which brings a fresh perspective and balance to their partnership. 

Living Together and Building a Life

The couple took a significant step in their relationship when they began living together in March 2024, according to multiple sources familiar with their situation. An insider confirmed at the time that “She is very happy with him” and that “Miley has changed a lot in the past couple of years.” 

The source added that Cyrus “seems more calm and harmonious” since being with Morando. 

Personal Growth and Transformation

During her Good Morning America appearance, Cyrus placed significant emphasis on how much she has emotionally evolved over the past four years with Morando. “A lot of my growth over the past four years has been because I have a great partner,” she revealed to the morning show hosts. 

She highlighted the importance of having “someone by your side that always tells you you can do it,” emphasizing the value of emotional support and consistent encouragement. 

Professional Alignment: Life Imitates Avatar

Cyrus expressed to Good Morning America that her personal and professional lives have aligned perfectly with her engagement and her involvement with the Avatar franchise. She explained: “My life has been perfectly aligned with the release of Avatar, my personal life—those two things kind of, I guess you could say, marrying each other and harmonizing with one another.” 

Her contribution of the song “Dream As One” to the Avatar: Fire and Ash film soundtrack coincides beautifully with her engagement announcement. 

The Avatar Connection: Dreams Aligning with Reality

Cyrus shared deeper insights about her song contribution to the Avatar film during her appearance on GMA. “When I came back home, I went straight into the Avatar world. People think of it as a film that’s larger than life. It’s this grand scale, but actually at the heart of Avatar, it’s really about relationships, love, having each other’s back,” she explained. 

“And so it actually felt very aligned with my life.” This profound connection between her artistic work and personal journey illustrates how her engagement with Morando represents not just a romantic milestone but a complete life alignment that encompasses her creative, emotional, and spiritual growth.

Liam Hemsworth Moves Forward with Gabriella Brooks

While Cyrus has found happiness and fulfillment with Morando, her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth has also moved forward with his own life and romantic relationship. Hemsworth is now in a committed relationship with model Gabriella Brooks, whom he began dating sometime after his split from Cyrus. 

The couple made their relationship Instagram official in 2021 and have maintained a relatively private romance away from intense media scrutiny and paparazzi attention. 

Industry Impact: Celebrity Engagements and Relationship Trends in 2025

Cyrus’s engagement to Morando reflects broader trends in celebrity relationships during 2025, particularly the growing preference for musicians and artists to partner with fellow creative professionals. Industry observers note that successful long-term celebrity relationships increasingly involve partners who understand the unique demands of entertainment careers and creative pursuits. 

The couple’s emphasis on privacy, mutual respect, and collaborative artistry has resonated with fans and relationship experts alike, offering an alternative narrative to the high-profile drama that often characterizes Hollywood romances. 

What Comes Next: Wedding Plans and Future Together

While specific wedding details remain carefully private, sources close to Cyrus have shared that she is “thrilled” about the engagement and that “it’s exactly the life she’s wanted.” The couple has been living together for years and reportedly “really thrives” together while “hanging out a lot at home and creating music.” 

Their shared creative interests and complementary personalities suggest a strong foundation for marriage.