Trace Cyrus
Cyrus performing in Chicago, 2008
Background information
Born	(1989-02-24) February 24, 1989 (age 23) Ashland, Kentucky, U.S.
Origin	Burbank, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock, emo, alternative rock, synthpop, electro
Occupations	Vocalist, guitarist, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	2006–present
Labels	Columbia
Associated acts	Metro Station, Ashland HIGH
Website	Trace Cyrus on Myspace

Trace Dempsey Cyrus^[1] (born February 24, 1989) is an American musician. He was the former guitarist, songwriter and vocalist of Metro Station before the band broke up. Currently, he is the owner of a clothing company called From Backseats to Bedrooms.^[2] Cyrus is the adopted son of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. He is the older brother of Miley Cyrus, Braison Cyrus, and Noah Cyrus, and the younger brother of Brandi Cyrus.

Early life[link]

Cyrus was born in Ashland, Kentucky. Cyrus's mother is Leticia "Tish" Finley Cyrus. His biological father is Baxter Neal Helson,^[3] but he was adopted by Billy Ray Cyrus.^[4][5] He spent his school holidays touring and performing with Billy Ray. He has a younger sister, Miley, who starred in the Disney Channel original television series Hannah Montana. In an interview with MTV, he discussed recording with Miley: "Actually, I'm going to sing on one of the tracks on her next album. I can't say much about it right now, but we will be collaborating."^[6] Cyrus has many tattoos on his arms and chest, including the words "stay gold" tattooed on his knuckles.^[5] In 2006, he worked at a shopping mall in Burbank, California and dropped out of La Cañada High School.^[5]

Career[link]

Metro Station[link]

Cyrus was a guitarist and vocalist in the pop rock band Metro Station.^[5] He started the band with Mason Musso in early 2006 when their mothers set them up to do a jam together,^[5] since Musso's brother Mitchel is a Hannah Montana cast member.^[5] Columbia Records signed the band after an intern at the record label saw their MySpace page.^[6] He appeared with Musso on MTV's Total Request Live on June 9, 2008. Their band along with The Maine were the two special guest acts on the 2008 Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour, co-headlined by Boys Like Girls and Good Charlotte.^[7] Metro Station parted ways in early 2010.

Ashland HIGH[link]

In early 2010, Cyrus formed his latest band, Ashland HIGH.^[8] Cyrus is featured on vocals and guitar on the single entitled "French Kiss". He has said that he is at work on his album, which is being produced in his condo.^[9] and has released demos of his 2 new songs "Break It Down" and "Pretty Girls" on his band's MySpace page.

Solo work[link]

In 2006, Cyrus co-wrote a song called "Country Music Has the Blues" on Billy Ray's 2006 album Wanna Be Your Joe. The song features guest appearances by Loretta Lynn and George Jones. In 2008, he featured in a song called "Hovering" on Miley's album, Breakout in the Deluxe Edition. Also in 2008, he appeared in the music video for the song "Somebody Said a Prayer" for the lead single for Billy Ray's album, Back to Tennessee. In 2010, he was featured in the song, "Alive" for Billy Ray's band, Brother Clyde.

Personal life[link]

Cyrus briefly dated Disney singer/actress Demi Lovato, but the relationship ended because of conflicting schedules.^[10]

On October 14, 2011, Cyrus announced that he was engaged to actress Brenda Song.^[11]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Trace Cyrus

• Trace Cyrus on Myspace

Brenda Song
Song at the premiere for Up in May 2009
Born	(1988-03-27) March 27, 1988 (age 24) Carmichael, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, spokesperson, film producer, model[1]
Years active	1994–present
Partner	Trace Cyrus (2010-present; engaged)
Website
brendasongsite.com

Brenda Song (born March 27, 1988) is an American actress, film producer, and model. Song started in show business as a child fashion model. Her early television work included roles in the shows Fudge (1995) and 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (1999). After many commercials and television roles in the late 1990s, Song won a Young Artist Award for her performance in The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000). She made her screen debut in Santa with Muscles (1996) and appeared in 20th Century Fox's Like Mike (2002). Her movies on the Disney Channel include Get a Clue (2002) and Stuck in the Suburbs (2004).

In 2005 Song began playing the lead female role of London Tipton in the Disney series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and The Suite Life on Deck. The character was noted as Disney's longest continuous female character in October 2009.^[2] Song gained more fame^[3] after she played the title role in the Disney Channel Original Movie, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, which received over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere.^[4][5] In 2006 Song was named the "Queen of Disney" by Cosmogirl Magazine.^[6]

In the late 2000s, she starred in the coming-of-age drama Special Delivery, Walt Disney Pictures' College Road Trip,^[7] and The Social Network (2010). She was the celebrity endorser of Disney Cruise Lines in 2010.^[8] Song has been described as one of "young Hollywood’s most promising rising stars"^[9] and a "young phenomenon on the rise" by media outlets.^[10] TV Guide listed her in its 2008 list of "13 Hottest Young Stars to Watch".^[11]

Early life[link]

Brenda Song was born in Carmichael, California, a suburb of Sacramento, to a Hmong father and a Thai mother who had been adopted by a Hmong family.^[12] Her paternal grandparents were from the Xiong clan, but changed their last name to Song when the family immigrated to the United States.^[12] Her parents were born in Asia and met as adults in Sacramento. Her father works as a schoolteacher and her mother is a homemaker. She has two younger brothers, Timmy and Nathan.^[1][13]

When she was six years old, Song moved with her mother to Los Angeles to support her acting career; the rest of the family followed two years later. As a young girl, Song wanted to do ballet, while her younger brother wanted to take taekwondo. She said, "My mom only wanted to take us to one place," so they settled on taekwondo. Although Song cried all the way through her first class,^[14] she now holds a black belt in taekwondo. Song was named an All-American Scholar in the ninth grade. She was homeschooled and earned a high school diploma at age 16,^[1][12] then took courses at a community college and online from the University of California, Berkeley,^[1] with a major in psychology^[12] and a minor in business.^[15]

Acting[link]

Early work[link]

Song started in show business as a child fashion model in San Francisco after being spotted in a shopping mall by an agent from a modeling school.^[16] She began acting at the age of five or six in a Little Caesars commercial,^[1][17] and then a Barbie commercial.^[1] Her first film role was in the 1995 Requiem, an AFI student short film by actress Elizabeth Sung. "She came in confident [at the auditions]. She was very focused, and it was very obvious that she loved what she was doing," said Sung.^[14] The film is about a waitress/dancer named Fong who remembers her loving brother and their bittersweet childhood in Hong Kong. The seven-year-old Song played a young version of "Fong", who is portrayed as an adult by Tamlyn Tomita. The film won a CINE Golden Eagle award.^[18] She appeared in another short film directed by Elizabeth Sung called The White Fox.^[12]

Song appeared in two episodes of the television program Thunder Alley, and was a regular in the children's television series Fudge, where she portrayed Jenny. Her theatrical film debut was in Santa with Muscles, a 1996 independent film starring professional wrestler Hulk Hogan. After a small role in Leave It to Beaver (1997), she appeared in the Nickelodeon television series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd, where she played Sariffa Chung in thirteen episodes. After 100 Deeds, she had a number of small parts in television shows such as 7th Heaven, Judging Amy, ER, Once and Again, and Bette, where she met Ashley Tisdale.

Two of Song's early roles led to recognition in the Young Artist Awards. Her role in the 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie The Ultimate Christmas Present won her the award for "Best Performance in a TV Movie Comedy, Supporting Young Actress".^[19] The film centers on two teenage girls, Allison Thompson (Hallee Hirsh) and Samantha Kwan (Song), who find a weather machine and make it snow in Los Angeles. Her 2002 appearance on The Bernie Mac Show led to a nomination for "Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress".^[20] In the same year, she was in the 20th Century Fox family film Like Mike, which grossed over $60 million.^[21] The film stars rapper Bow Wow as an orphan who can suddenly play NBA-level basketball. Song portrays the character Reg Stevens, a thirteen-year old orphan. Although the film was criticized for its "frightening myths about adoption",^[22] it was successful enough to spawn a sequel. Song did not participate in the sequel.

In 2002 Song signed a contract with Disney^[14] and appeared in the Disney Channel movie Get a Clue. After 2002 Song continued to make guest appearances in American situation comedies such as That's So Raven and One on One. She had a recurring role as Tia in the Disney Channel series Phil of the Future, appearing in seven episodes of the series in 2004 and 2005.

In late 2004 Song starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Stuck in the Suburbs, portraying Natasha Kwon-Schwartz.^[23] The television premiere received 3.7 million viewers.^[24] The film is about two teenage girls living in suburbia who accidentally exchange cell phones with a famous teen musician. She said later: "When Stuck came out it was crazy 'cause we went to Six Flags and we were there and so many kids recognized us from Stuck in the Suburbs, I'm like wow that movie must have done really well."^[25] That year, Song posed for the cover of Teen People with her Get a Clue co-star, Lindsay Lohan.

[edit] The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

In 2005, Song began appearing in the role of spoiled heiress London Tipton in the Disney Channel Original Series, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The role was named "Paris" in an early script and is an allusion to "Paris Hilton" (London spoofing Paris, and Tipton is the name of the hotel her father owns in the show).^[1][26][27] She got the role without an audition,^[28] and was surprised to find her friend, Ashley Tisdale, working in the show.^[23] Song says, "London is my fantasy person, I wish I could be her. I wish I had her closet."^[1]

The series is about the residents and workers at the fictional Tipton Hotel in Boston and mainly centers around the trouble-making twins, Zack and Cody Martin (Dylan and Cole Sprouse), and London Tipton (Song). The series premiered on the Disney Channel on March 18, 2005, receiving four million viewers, making it the most successful premiere for the Disney Channel in 2005.^[29] In 2007 the series was the top-rated television program among children aged 6 to 11, and was the second top-rated television program for children aged 9 to 14.^[30] Song's participation in the series led to her becoming highly popular among children between the ages of seven and ten.^[31] In 2006 Song was featured in Teen People's "Young Hollywood" issue, which described her role in the Suite Life as her breakout role.^[32]

Song's performance in the Suite Life series was often praised by critics. An April 2009 andPOP.com article stated that as London Tipton, "Song is the One to Steal the Spotlight" on the Disney Channel. They said, "if you ever watched an episode of ‘The Suite Life with Zack & Cody’ you should realize that show is watchable because of one character: London Tipton. Brenda plays the ditzy spoiled hotel heiress London (an allusion to Paris Hilton) and, if I could say so myself, she does quite an excellent job doing so."^[33] While commenting on Song, MSN's 2009 cover story on the series stated, "Song is one of the main reasons why the "Suite Life" franchise remains one of the most successful and highly rated series in the Disney stable."^[34] In a 2009 People magazine article, the character was described as a "melodramatic high-seas diva."^[13]

The series eventually earned a 2007 Young Artist Award for "Best Family Television Series (comedy)",^[35] Emmy nominations for "Outstanding Children's Program" (twice)^[36] and "Outstanding Choreography",^[37] and three Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award nominations for "Favorite TV show" in 2007, 2008, and 2009.^[38] In 2006 Song earned an Asian Excellence Award nomination for "Outstanding Newcomer" for her part in the series.^[39]

After her debut on the Suite Life series, Song became a regular on the Disney Channel, and had a voice role in Disney Channel's American Dragon: Jake Long series. In 2006 Song had a voice-over role in Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen. She later starred in an online series called London Tipton's Yay Me! based on the episode "Tiptonline" on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

[edit] Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior

Song's first starring role as the title character was in the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior,^[40] which had over 5.7 million viewers at its premiere.^[5][16] At first, Wendy Wu was planned to be a comedy, but the directors of the film were having trouble finding a suitable actor with both the comedic presence and taekwondo ability to play the main character, originally named Kenny Lu. Lydia Cook, one of the films's directors, said, "Brenda was originally brought in to play the [supporting] monk’s role. We started training with her in martial arts, and that’s when we realized that she should be Kenny Lu. They quickly switched things around and offered Brenda the lead in the movie. She had the perfect combination of wit and martial arts."^[14] Song had to break a brick with her hand in a screen test before landing the title role.^[32]

According to The New York Times, the film became a "star vehicle" for Song.^[1] The film was about an average, popular Chinese-American teenager whose life is turned upside down by a visit from a young Chinese monk (Shin Koyamada). The monk claims she is the reincarnation of a powerful female warrior and the only person who can prevent an ancient evil spirit from destroying the world. In a second story line, Wendy and most of her family struggle with keeping their culture and heritage.^[41] Song felt she could relate to the message since she knew little about her own people before making the film.^[1] She said, "I really identified with Wendy because I don’t want to not know where I came from".^[42] To promote the film, she posed for the cover of Seventeen, Teen People, Teen, Seventeen Malaysia, and several other magazines,^[43] and traveled to Malaysia, Singapore, and Costa Rica.^[44] A Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior sequel, starring Song and Koyamada, was announced in the end of 2007.^[45]

The film received positive reviews from critics. UltimateDisney.com called the role "a strong departure from her flaky London Tipton character in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody", adding that Song "shows in this movie that she no longer has to restrict herself to playing the dumb one."^[40] The site praised the film, stating, "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior is an enjoyable little telefilm, rife with killer action sequences (for a DCOM), and a great showcase of talent in both acting and martial for Brenda Song. Aside from a few totally cliched characters and situations, it's worth 91 minutes of your time."^[40] Allmovie described Song as a "charming and appealing personality, even when playing a shallow airhead".^[46]

While commending Disney for the strong Asian cast, a BellaOnline review noted that that it is rare to see a female martial arts star with a black belt.^[47] Song did most of her own stunt work for the film, with guidance from Koichi Sakamoto, executive producer for the Power Rangers series. Song was inspired to endure the stunt training by the way her mother dealt with breast cancer in 2005.^[16] Disney Channel executive vice president Gary Marsh called the film "Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" and said of Song: "She's incredibly talented, she's smart. She adds diversity to our network, and she's a real kid."^[41]

[edit] Theatrical films and Suite Life spin-off

Song at The Cheetah Girls: One World premiere, August 2008

In 2008 Song appeared in the Walt Disney Pictures film College Road Trip with Raven-Symoné and Martin Lawrence. In its opening weekend in March 2008, the film grossed $13.6 million, ranking #2 at the box office.^[48] The family film centers on college-bound teen Melanie Porter (Symoné), who goes on a road trip to different colleges with her father, while her college-bound friends Nancy Carter (Song) and Katie (Margo Harshman) surprise Melanie on her road trip. The film grossed $45 million in the United States and $6 million outside the United States.^[49] Although it earned a Teen Choice Award nomination for "choice movie comedy",^[50] the acting was panned, and the film mainly received negative reviews. A Daily Mail review said the film was "one of those churn-'em-out Disney comedies in which every performer seems to be competing to give the most annoying performance in cinematic history."^[51]

After being a captain for three years in the Disney Channel Games, Song was featured in Studio DC: Almost Live with other Disney stars. She had guest voice roles in Phineas & Ferb and The Emperor's New School. She starred in the Lifetime Movie Network telefilm Special Delivery,^[52] a film about bonded courier, Maxine (Lisa Edelstein), who is forced to take care of a 14-year old troubled teen, Alice (Song). The Daily Record called it a "likeable comedy".^[53] The Australian publication Urban CineFilm gave Song a positive review for her performance in the film.^[54]

Song reprised her role as London Tipton in the 2008 Suite Life spin-off/sequel, The Suite Life on Deck.^[55] The show's premiere on the Disney Channel drew 5.7 million viewers,^[56] and it became the most-watched series premiere on Canada's Family Channel.^[57] The show became the most-watched scripted series among children aged 6 to 11 and among tweens in 2008.^[58] In 2009 the show was the most-watched scripted series among children and the second most-watched scripted series among pre-teens.^[59] Disney ordered a second season for the series, which aired in August 2009.^[60] In May 2009 Disney Channel's executive vice president Gary Marsh issued a press release where he said, "with this second-season extension, the cast of 'The Suite Life' makes Disney Channel history by becoming the longest running continuous characters on our air – 138 half-hour episodes. We are thrilled for them, and for the brilliant, inspired production team that made this extraordinary run possible."^[2] Song's character, London Tipton, is Disney Channel's longest continuous female character.^[2]

Song starred as Paige in a December 2008 animated TV special for NBC, "Macy's Presents Little Spirit: Christmas in New York".^[61] The animated TV special is about a friendly New York cab driver (Danny DeVito) who tells a magical story to two sisters (Song and Rachel Shier). The television special received five million viewers.^[62] In late 2008 Song made a special appearance at the grand opening of the RTA HealthLine in Cleveland.^[63]

In early 2009 Song started filming Boogie Town with Marques Houston and Vanessa Simmons. The film is compared to West Side Story; it is set in a future New York City where dancing battles occur in "Boogie Town". In the film Micah (Houston) falls in love with Natalie (Song), the sister of the head of a rival dance group, and the two become a modern Romeo and Juliet. The film was shot in downtown Los Angeles. Distributed by Vivendi Entertainment, it was scheduled to be released in the summer of 2009,^[64][65] but it was postponed, and was expected to be released theatrically in 2010.^[64]

In October 2009 Song joined the main cast of Columbia Pictures' The Social Network alongside Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake.^[66] The film was about the founders of the popular social networking site, Facebook. Song portrays Eduardo Saverin's girlfriend. Aaron Sorkin adapted the screenplay from the book The Accidental Billionaires. David Fincher directed the film.^[67] The film won the "Hollywood Ensemble Award" from the Hollywood Awards,^[68] and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

An independent film starring Song, Little Sister, was announced at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival in May 2010.^[69] The film is distributed by Goalpost Film and Goalpost Productions.^[69] In 2012, Song filmed a pilot for a TV series called Table for Three.^[70]

Song has been represented by the International Creative Management and Richard Konigsberg Management.^[52]

Music[link]

Song was part of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, a group of performers from several different Disney Channel television series. She took part in the recording and music video of a version of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes". The recording was included on the special edition Cinderella DVD and on the DisneyMania 4 CD. The album CD was released in April 2005 under the Walt Disney Records label and peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200, and #2 on the Top Kids Audio chart^[71] and Top Compilation Albums chart.^[72]

In 2004 Song appeared in Jesse McCartney's music video for "Good Life". Film clips from Stuck in the Suburbs, which included Song, appeared in music videos for Anneliese van der Pol's song "Over It" and Taran Killam's "More Than Me", "On Top of the World", and "Make a Wish". In 2007 Song filmed a music video for "Open Up Your Eyes", which was featured in her movie Holidaze. She recorded a song for Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior called "I'm Not That Girl", which aired on Radio Disney and was on the Wendy Wu DVD. In the Suite Life High School Musical-themed episode, Song performed "Bop To The Top" and "Really Great". "Really Great" became the theme song for the online series, London Tipton's Yay Me!. She sang "Bling Is My Favourite Thing" on another Suite Life episode. Ian Scott wrote and produced demo songs for her.^[73] The songs are credited to Mark Jackson Productions, which is associated with Warner Bros. Records.

Public image and personal life[link]

In 2006 Song was hostess for the "A World Of Change" annual charity fashion show to benefit Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services.^[74] She supported the 10th Annual L.A. Cancer Challenge, and was part of the Disney Channel Games, which supported various charities including Make-a-Wish Foundation and UNICEF.^[75] In 2008 Song was part of the "Power of Youth carnival", a benefit for the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.^[76] In 2006 and 2007 she participated in the YMCA Healthy Kids Day in Chicago.^[77] She began hosting a Disney special daily segment called Pass the Plate in 2007, in which she helps children and their families learn more about nutrition and healthy food.^[78] The series is produced in ten countries in association with Disney Channel.^[79] Song returned for the second season of the miniseries.

In 2006 a series of articles by Scholastic included facts about Song and mathematical guidance from her. The first article in the series was "Maths Spotlight on... Brenda Song".^[80][81] Song also appeared alongside Paula Abdul and several other celebrities in a "Our Time to Vote" commercial, which aimed to encourage American citizens to vote during the 2008 presidential election.^[82] In 2009, Song participated in the "Diet Pepsi Easter Holiday House" event. She decorated an egg at the event which was sold in an online auction benefiting Feeding America.^[83]

According to Time, Song is one of the three Disney starlets who have not been involved in the Hollywood party girl scene, along with Hilary Duff and Raven-Symoné. Asiance Magazine calls her a "great role model" for young girls.^[84] She said in 2005: "Besides Hollywood grand-openings and award shows, I try to stay away from the parties. It’s so easy to be swept away from that whole scene because it’s expected of you. I’ve never drank or smoked in my entire life, but I’ve seen 15-year-olds drinking and smoking and I just think that’s gross."^[12] On being a young role model to kids, Song said: "Oh goodness, I hope I can set a good example. If I can do it, anyone can. I’m living my dream every single day."^[14]

In 2006 Song was named the "Queen of Disney" by Cosmogirl Magazine due to her major contributions on the Disney Channel.^[6] Song ranked ninth in Netscape's 2007 "Top 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment",^[85] was voted one of AOL's "Top 20 Tween (and Teen) TV Stars",^[86] and was ranked #3 on Maxim's Asian Hot 100 of 2008 list. Song was also ranked #45 in AIM's "Top 100 Celebs Under 25" list.^[87] TV Guide listed her in its 2008 list of "13 Hottest Young Stars to Watch".^[11] In 2009, Song was featured in Celebuzz's "Rising Stars" list,^[88] and was described as one of "young Hollywood’s most promising rising stars".^[9] In 2009 she was named one of the most influential Asian Americans under the age of 30 by the blog Angry Asian Man.^[89]

Song was a spokesperson for Disney's environmental campaign, Disney's Friends for Change.^[90] She was featured in several commercials on the Disney Channel for the campaign. The charity's aim was to explain how children can help preserve the Earth and invited them to go to the Friends for Change website to register and pledge, offering them the chance to help choose how Disney will invest $1 million in environmental programs.^[91] In 2010 she was the celebrity endorser of the Walt Disney Company's Disney Cruise Line.^[8]

On October 14, 2011, People reported that Song was engaged to Trace Cyrus.^[92]

Lawsuit[link]

On April 18, 2008, a picture of Song was used in an ad for an escort agency in the back of that week's LA Weekly. Disney lawyers were not pleased with the use of Song's copyrighted image for advertising adult activities. A rep from Disney told TMZ: "This is an unauthorized use of Brenda Song's image and her personal attorney has issued a cease and desist to the advertiser."^[93] Song filed a libel suit against the Vibe Media Inc. seeking at least $100,000 in damages.^[94] Song said: "As a role model to millions of young people, I feel I have to take a stand against this company in regard to its exploitation of my image."^[95]

Song's attorney said the photo used in the advertisement was taken when Song was 16 years old. Song's attorney later found that an individual, and not Vibe Media, was responsible for the use of the photo. He told Back Stage:

I'm not sure if they were trying to just find a picture of a pretty girl or an Asian-looking girl or whether they expected that Brenda would be recognized.... Brenda's demographic is a lot different from what I would suppose the clients of this business are. If you're the sort of person who would use the services of a business like this, it is quite possible that you have never heard of Brenda Song.^[96]

Song's attorney said that it would be hard to show how much the misuse of the photo hurt her career, but that a lawsuit was needed. "Brenda has been careful to not accept roles that would taint her in the way that some other young actors have been."^[96]

In January 2009, a tentative settlement was reached, although the terms were still being finalized.^[97] In March 2009, Radar reported Song won the lawsuit.^[98]

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

Television[link]

Online series[link]

Guest appearances[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

Further reading[link]

• Tamra Orr (2009). Brenda Song (A Robbie Reader). Mitchell Lane Publishers. ISBN 1-58415-753-4.
• Katherine Rawson (2009). Brenda Song (Kid Stars!). PowerKids Press. ISBN 1-4358-3406-2.

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Jacques Steinberg (June 15, 2006). "Brenda Song Turns Warrior in Disney's 'Wendy Wu'". The New York Times. Accessed 2008-12-11.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Robert Siedman (May 11, 2009). Disney Channel orders more The Suite Life on Deck. TV by the Numbers. Accessed 2009-06-09.
3. ^ ^{a b} Stacy Jenel Smith (November 19, 2007). "Rising Star: Brenda Song Shows Off Chops in 'Wendy Wu'". Netscape Celebrity. Accessed 2008-12-11.
4. ^ Izuan Shah (November 10, 2006). Happily on Song. star-ecentral.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
5. ^ ^{a b} R. Thomas Umstead (January 22, 2007). "Disney Movie Skips to Another Record". Multichannel News. Accessed 2008-12-11.
6. ^ ^{a b} Brenda Song re-launches her Official Site (January 17, 2009). The Insider. Accessed 2009-03-25.
7. ^ "College Road Trip Movie Review". movies.sky.com. Accessed 2010-06-10.
8. ^ ^{a b} Brenda Song Is The Disney Cruise Line’s Spokesperson (April 25, 2010). disneydreaming.com. Accessed 2010-05-10.
9. ^ ^{a b} Brenda Song: Friday the 13th Cutie. (February 10, 2009). www.celebrity-gossip.net. Accessed 2009-02-28.
10. ^ Brenda Song Poster – New Products. alastore.com. Accessed 2010-01-06.
11. ^ ^{a b} TVGuide.com reveals tomorrow's tween stars today, overlooks mini Clay Aiken (July 2, 2008). MTV Buzzworthy. Accessed 2008-10-10.
12. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Wameng Moua (September 22, 2005). "Bonafide Star: Brenda Song". Hmong Today. Accessed 2006-05-04.
13. ^ ^{a b} Girl Power (May 20, 2009). People. Accessed 2009-07-07.
14. ^ ^{a b c d e} Stephanie Wu (October 30, 2008). "The Sweet Life of Brenda Song". Mochimag.com. Accessed 2008-12-23.
15. ^ Kerry Miller (May 9, 2008). "Suite Song". Midweek. Accessed 2008-12-11.
16. ^ ^{a b c} Jeff Yang (June 23, 2006). "Warrior Women". San Francisco Chronicle, SFgate.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
17. ^ Brenda Song. BrendaSongSite.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
18. ^ CINE Golden Eagle Film & Video Competition: 1996 Winner Directory (PDF). CINE. Accessed 2008-12-11.
19. ^ ^{a b} 22nd Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2008-02-10.
20. ^ ^{a b} 24th Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2008-01-10.
21. ^ Like Mike box office stats, BoxOfficeMojo.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
22. ^ Ann Hornaday (July 3, 2002). "'Like Mike': Lil' Bow Wow Jumps Through the Hoops". The Washington Post. Accessed 2008-12-11.
23. ^ ^{a b} Aaron Wallace (January 16, 2007). Interview with Brenda Song. UltimateDisney.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
24. ^ Cynthia Littleton (July 20, 2004). "'Days' wins For ABC; 'Atlantis' a Sci Fi record". The Hollywood Reporter/Allbusiness.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
25. ^ Interview with Brenda Song (March 2005). TheStarScoop.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
26. ^ Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith (October 6, 2008). "When London (Brenda Song) Met Paris". Netscape Celebrity. Accessed 2012-05-07.
27. ^ The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Taking Over the Tipton Review. UltimateDisney.com. Accessed 2008-12-12.
28. ^ Interview with Brenda Song (April 2005). TheStarScoop.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
29. ^ Kris De Leon (December 13, 2008) 'Suite Life' Stars To Meet Fans in Central Illinois Today. Buddytv.com. Accessed 2009-02-27.
30. ^ Toni Fitzgerald (July 20, 2007). "The real TGIF, on the Disney Channel". Medialife Magazine. Accessed 2008-12-11.
31. ^ Meg Cabot (January 20, 2009). Year of the Pony (and iPod). The Wall Street Journal. Accessed 2009-02-27.
32. ^ ^{a b} Brenda Song was featured in Teen People's 2006 Young Hollywood Issue. Brendasongsite.com. Accessed 2010-01-06.
33. ^ Rant ‘N Rave: Disney Channel Stars. (April 21, 2009). andPop.com. Accessed 2010-01-06.
34. ^ Q&A: Brenda Song of 'The Suite Life on Deck'. msn.com. Accessed 2010-01-06.
35. ^ 28th Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2008-02-10.
36. ^ Primetime Emmys 2007 and Primetime Emmys 2008. Emmys.org. Accessed 2008-12-11.
37. ^ Primetime Emmys 2006. Emmys.org. Accessed 2009-02-27.
38. ^ Kid's Choice Awards 2007, Kid's Choice Awards 2008 and Kid's Choice Awards 2009. NickKCApress.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
39. ^ ^{a b} Asian Excellence Awards Nominees (December 6, 2005). internationalnetworks.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
40. ^ ^{a b c} Albert Gutierrez (November 21, 2006). Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior: Kickin' Addition DVD Review. UltimateDisney.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
41. ^ ^{a b} Marissa Guthrie (June 16, 2006). "I was a teenage 'warrior'". New York Daily News. Accessed 2008-12-11.
42. ^ Jaymie Moran (June 2006). "Brenda Song is Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior". Asiance Magazine. Accessed 2008-12-11.
43. ^ Seventeen Magazine. BrendaSongSite.com. Accessed 2009-02-28.
44. ^ Teen Talks To: Brenda Song. TeenMag.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
45. ^ Stacy Dodd and Byron Perry (October 14, 2007). "Shin Koyamada". Variety. Accessed 2008-12-11.
46. ^ Craig Butler. Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior review. allmovie.com. Accessed 2008-12-12.
47. ^ Caroline Baker; Caroline Chen-Whatley, ed. New TV Show – Wendy Wu Homecoming Warrior. BellaOnline.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
48. ^ David Germain (March 9, 2008). '10,000 B.C.' leads box-office hunt with $35.7 million debut, SignOnSanDiego.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
49. ^ College Road Trip box office stats. BoxOfficeMojo.com. Accessed 2008-08-30.
50. ^ Nominees announced for Teen Choice Awards 2008 (June 17, 2008). TeenChoiceAwards.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
51. ^ Chris Tookey (August 21, 2008). "College Road Trip: Unbelievably bad". Mail online, dailymail.co.uk. Accessed 2008-11-11.
52. ^ ^{a b} Kimberly Nordyke (January 16, 2008). "Pair set for 'Delivery' pic at Lifetime". The Hollywood Reporter. Accessed 2012-05-07.
53. ^ Sunday: Films Of The Day^{[dead link]} (August 30, 2008). DailyRecord.co.uk. Accessed 2008-12-11.
54. ^ Special Delivery: DVD. urbancinefile.com.au. Accessed 2009-06-26.
55. ^ Kimberly Nordyke (February 4, 2008). "'Zack & Cody' embark on spin-off voyage". Reuters. Accessed 2008-12-11.
56. ^ Gary Levin (September 30, 2008). "Nielsens: Presidential debate fights for numbers". USAtoday. Accessed 2008-12-12.
57. ^ Scott Campbell (October 20, 2008). The Suite Life on Deck sets sail on Family Channel with record-breaking premiere ratings. Newswire.ca. Accessed 2008-12-12.
58. ^ Disney Channel/DisneyChannel.com Highlights For 2008 (December 23, 2008). Business Wire. Accessed 2008-12-24.
59. ^ Robert Siedman (October 19, 2009). Suite Life on Deck renewed for a third season. tvbythenumbers.com. Accessed 2010-07-06.
60. ^ Kris De Leon (December 6, 2008). Disney Orders More 'Suite Life' and 'Hannah Montana'. buddytv.com. Accessed 2008-12-06.
61. ^ NBC presents fall line-up (September 8, 2008). thefutoncritic.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
62. ^ Fox's 'Secret Millionaire' wins hour; CBS tops night (December 11, 2008). hollywoodreporter.com. Accessed 2012-05-07.
63. ^ RTA Healthline. (October 20, 2008). rtahealthline.com. Accessed 2009-02-28.
64. ^ ^{a b c} M. Carly (June 18, 2009). Brenda Song: Life Sure Is Sweet!. Scholastic. Accessed 2009-06-25.
65. ^ Vivendi Entertainment to distribute Boogie Town (December 2, 2008). Vivendient.com. Accessed 2009-02-25.
66. ^ Russ Fischer (October 20, 2009). "Casting Notes: Selena Gomez in Teen Rom Com; The Social Network Gets New Kids; The Whistleblower Gets Proven Talent". /Film. Retrieved 2009-11-13.
67. ^ Peter Sciretta (June 23, 2009). "Facebook Movie is An Adaptation of The Accidental Billionaires". Splashfilm.com. Accessed 2009-11-13.
68. ^ Angelina! Leo! Vote for Your Faves for the Hollywood Awards (October 13, 2010). etonline.com. Accessed 2010-10-26.
69. ^ ^{a b} Cannes Film Festival announces Brenda Song's new film, Little Sister. Brendasongsite.com. Accessed 2010-06-09.
70. ^ Brenda Song Dishes On Her New Show 'Table For Three'. brendasongsite.com. Accessed 2012-05-21.
71. ^ Disneymania, Vol 4 Billboard charts. Allmusic. Accessed 2008-12-11.
72. ^ Top Compilation Albums – DisneyMania 4^{[dead link]}. Billboard. Accessed 2008-12-11.
73. ^ Producers. MarkJacksonProductions.com. Accessed 2008-12-11.
74. ^ A World Of Change Charity Event:Brenda Song. SplashMag.com. Accessed 2007-10-22.
75. ^ Hal Boedeker (April 25, 2008). The latest on Disney Channel Games, which start Monday. Orlando Sentinel. Accessed 2008-12-23.
76. ^ Gerri Miller (October 17, 2008). POP-Corn: High School Musical 3. Scholastic News. Accessed 2008-12-23.
77. ^ Brenda Song talks about kids' health (June 1, 2006). UnionSentinel.com. Accessed 2007-11-20.
78. ^ Brenda Song Teen Mag Interview 2. TeenMag.com. Accessed 2007-11-02.
79. ^ 'Suite Life' Actress Hosting Disney's Multicultural Series. buddytv.com. Accessed 2007-10-27.
80. ^ MATH Spotlight on... Brenda Song^{[dead link]}. EBSCOhost Connection. Accessed 2008-04-03.
81. ^ Brenda Song^{[dead link]}. EBSCOhost Connection. Accessed 2008-04-03.
82. ^ Our Time to Vote. Ourtimetovote.com. Accessed 2009-03-25.
83. ^ Brenda Song's Decorated Egg. Clothesoffoutback.org. Accessed 2009-04-15.
84. ^ Look at Brenda Song all grown up! (April 25, 2008). Asiance Magazine. Accessed 2008-06-14.
85. ^ Stacy Jenel Smith (2007). Top 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment. Netscape. Accessed 2007-11-20.
86. ^ AOL's Top 20 Tween (and Teen) TV Stars. Aol.com. Accessed 2008-04-04.
87. ^ 100 Celebs Under 25. dashboard.aim.com. Accessed 2009-02-21.
88. ^ Rising Stars. celebuzz.com. Accessed 2009-02-28.
89. ^ The 30 most influential Asian Americans under 30 blog.angryasianman.com. Accessed 2010-05-10.
90. ^ Brenda Song Promotes Disney’s Friends For Change (May 4, 2009). BrendaSongSite.com. Accessed 2009-07-19
91. ^ The Walt Disney Company launches Disney's Friends for Change (May 14, 2009). Disney Channel. Accessed 2009-06-05.
92. ^ Davhi Shira (October 14, 2011). Trace Cyrus & Brenda Song Are Engaged! People. Accessed 2011-10-15.
93. ^ For a Good Time ... Call Disney Star? (April 18, 2008). TMZ. Accessed 2008-04-18.
94. ^ Song Sings: See My Face in Court! (April 25, 2008). TMZ. Accessed 2008-04-26.
95. ^ Natalie Finn (April 25, 2008). Brenda Song Cries Foul. E Online. Accessed 2008-04-26.
96. ^ ^{a b} Lauren Horwitch (May 28, 2008). "Actors Fight for Control Over Their Photos". Backstage. Accessed 2008-09-01.
97. ^ Breanne L. Heldman (January 26, 2009). Suite Brenda Song Sweeps Away Escort Service Suit E Online. Accessed 2009-01-27.
98. ^ Disney star wins Porn AD Court Fight (March 4, 2009). Radar Online. Accessed 2009-03-25.
99. ^ Brian Lowry (November 15, 2011). 'Pixie Hollow' Sprinkles Fairie Dust on Disney. Accessed 2011-12-12.
100. ^ Imagineer That. Disney.com. Accessed 2008-04-04.
101. ^ Brenda Song and Ashley Tisdale Get 'Styl'd'. JSYLK.com. Accessed 2009-11-17.
102. ^ The 2010 Green Globe Film Awards oneasianworld.com. Accessed 2010-04-14.

External links[link]

	Asian Americans portal
	Biography portal
	Film portal
	Television portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Brenda Song

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Brenda Song

• Official website
• Brenda Song at the Internet Movie Database
• Brenda Song at New York Times Movies
• Brenda Song at AskMen.com
• Brenda Song at People

This Awards and achievements succession box's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. Please help improve the article by updating it. There may be additional information on the talk page. (April 2012)

Miley Cyrus
Cyrus at the 2012 People's Choice Awards
Background information
Birth name	Destiny Hope Cyrus
Born	(1992-11-23) November 23, 1992 (age 19) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.[1]
Genres	Pop,[2] country pop, dance, electropop, teen pop
Occupations	Actress, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Walt Disney, Hollywood
Associated acts	Hannah Montana, Billy Ray Cyrus, Demi Lovato
Website	MileyCyrus.com Signature of Miley Cyrus.

Miley Ray Cyrus (born Destiny Hope Cyrus; November 23, 1992) is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana.

Cyrus recorded music for the soundtracks, Hannah Montana (2006) and Hannah Montana 2/Meet Miley Cyrus (2007), released by Walt Disney Records. With the success of the Hannah Montana franchise she established herself as a teen idol. In 2007, Cyrus signed to Hollywood Records to pursue a solo career. She embarked upon the Best of Both Worlds Tour the same year, in which she performed as both herself and in character as Hannah Montana. The tour was eventually turned into a high-grossing concert film titled Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008). In July 2008, Cyrus released her first solo album, Breakout (2008), which was commercially successful.

She began her foray into film by providing the voice of "Penny" in the animated film Bolt (2008). Cyrus earned a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for her performance of Bolt's theme song, "I Thought I Lost You". She also reprised her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009). The Hannah Montana: The Movie' soundtrack introduced her to new audiences within country and adult contemporary markets.

She began to cultivate an adult image in 2009 with the release of The Time of Our Lives (2009), an extended play which presented a more mainstream pop sound, and by filming The Last Song (2010), a coming-of-age drama film. The former included Cyrus's best-selling single, "Party in the U.S.A." (2009). A studio album titled Can't Be Tamed was released in 2010 and presents a new dance-pop sound. The music video and lyrics of the album's lead single, "Can't Be Tamed", portrays a more sexualized image for the entertainer. Cyrus ranked number thirteen on Forbes' 2010 Celebrity 100.^[3] For the 2011 Guinness World Records, she was named the “Most Charted Teenager” following her 29th US Billboard Hot 100 chart entry on November 7, 2009 with “Party in the USA”.^[4]

Early life[link]

Cyrus at the 2010 Academy Awards.

Cyrus was born on November 23, 1992, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Letitia Jean "Tish"^[5] (née Finley) and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.^[6][7] Her parents named her Destiny Hope because they believed that she would accomplish great things with her life. They gave her the nickname "Smiley", which was later shortened to "Miley", because she smiled so often as a baby.^[8] Cyrus suffers from a mild heart condition causing tachycardia which, though not dangerous, is often bothersome.^[9]

Against the wishes of her father's record company,^[10] Cyrus's parents secretly married a year after Cyrus's birth on December 28, 1993.^[7][11] Tish had two children from a previous relationship: Trace and Brandi. Billy Ray adopted Trace and Brandi when they were young.^[12] She has a half-brother, Christopher Cody, Billy Ray's son from a brief relationship, born the same year as Miley; he grew up with his mother in South Carolina.^[10] Tish and Billy Ray had two more children, Braison and Noah. Cyrus's godmother is entertainer Dolly Parton.^[13] Cyrus was very close to her paternal grandfather, Democratic politician Ronald Ray Cyrus.^[14] Cyrus has paid her grandfather several tributes since his death in 2006, including eventually changing her middle name to "Ray".^[15] According to Cyrus's father, "A lot of people say Miley changed her name to Miley Ray because of Billy Ray, but that's not true. She did that in honor of my dad, because the two of them just loved each other to pieces."^[9]

Cyrus grew up on a 500-acre (2.0 km²) farm in Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville,^[16] and attended Heritage Elementary School.^[17] She was raised Christian and was baptized in a Southern Baptist church prior to moving to Hollywood in 2005. She attended church regularly while growing up and wore a purity ring.^[18] Several of Cyrus's siblings also eventually entered the entertainment business: Trace became a vocalist and guitarist for the electronic pop band Metro Station,^[19] Noah became an actress, and Brandi became a guitarist.^[20]

Career[link]

2001–05: Career beginnings[link]

In 2001, when Cyrus was eight, she and her family moved to Toronto, Canada while her father filmed the television series Doc.^[21] Cyrus said watching her father film the show inspired her to pursue acting. After Billy Ray took her to see a 2001 Mirvish production of Mamma Mia! at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Cyrus grabbed his arm and told him, "This is what I want to do, daddy. I want to be an actress."^[22] She began taking singing and acting classes at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto.^[23] In her first role, Cyrus played a girl named Kylie on Doc.^[8] In 2003, Cyrus was credited under her birth name for her role as "Young Ruthie" in Tim Burton's Big Fish.^[24]

At age 11, Cyrus learned about the casting for what became Hannah Montana, a Disney Channel children's television series about a school girl with a secret double life as a teen pop star. Cyrus sent in a tape auditioning for the show's best friend role, but received a call asking her to audition for the lead, "Chloe Stewart".^[1] After sending in a new tape and flying to Hollywood for further auditions,^[25] Cyrus was told that she was too young and too small for the part.^[25][26] However, her persistence and ability to sing in addition to act led the show's producers to invite her back for further auditions. Cyrus eventually received the lead, renamed "Miley Stewart" after herself, at the age of twelve.^[25] During this time, she also auditioned with Taylor Lautner for the feature film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D and it came down to her and another actress, but Cyrus started doing Hannah Montana instead.^[27]

As Cyrus's career took off, Tish Cyrus made several critical decisions regarding her daughter's representation. She signed Cyrus with Mitchell Gossett, director of the youth division at Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty. Gossett, who specializes in creating child stars, had arranged for Cyrus's auditions for Hannah Montana and is credited with "discovering" her.^[28][29] For Cyrus's music career, Tish followed the advice of Dolly Parton, Cyrus's godmother and a singer herself, and signed Cyrus with Jason Morey of Morey Management Group. "Dolly said the Moreys are people you can trust around your daughter," Tish Cyrus recalls, "and she said they have good morals, which is not always the case in this business."^[30] According to trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter, Parton's advice was "the best advice [Tish] could [have gotten] on who should rep her daughter."^[30] Tish also recruited Billy Ray's business manager to manage her daughter's finances. Tish herself continues to co-manage or produce many of Cyrus's career decisions.^[30] For her education, Cyrus enrolled at Options for Youth Charter Schools^[31] and studied with a private tutor on the set of her television show.^[32]

[edit] 2006–07: Hannah Montana and Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus

Cyrus performing on the Best of Both Worlds Tour

Hannah Montana became an instant hit and propelled Cyrus to teen idol status, according to The Daily Telegraph.^[24] The series premiered on March 26, 2006, to the largest audience ever for a Disney Channel show^[33] and soon became one of the highest-rated series on basic cable, elevating Cyrus's wealth and fame along with it.^[34] Time magazine reports that Cyrus's "phenom[enal]" success is due partially to her talent and partially to "Disney learning to use its vast, multimedia holdings" and market Cyrus and Hannah Montana appropriately.^[35] Cyrus eventually became the first artist to have deals in television, film, consumer products, and music within The Walt Disney Company.^[28]

The first single was "The Best of Both Worlds", the theme song to Hannah Montana, which was released on March 28, 2006.^[36] "The Best of Both Worlds" is credited to "Hannah Montana", the pop star Cyrus portrays on the series by the same name. As with other songs credited to Montana, Cyrus typically dressed as the character when performing the song live.^[37] Cyrus's first release under her own name was a cover of James Baskett's "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah", released on April 4, 2006, on the fourth edition of DisneyMania.^[38] Dressed as Hannah Montana, Cyrus opened for The Cheetah Girls on twenty dates of their The Party's Just Begun Tour, beginning on September 15, 2006.^[39] On October 24 of same year, Walt Disney Records released the first Hannah Montana soundtrack. Of the nine tracks on the soundtrack performed by Cyrus, eight were credited to "Hannah Montana" and one, a duet with her father titled "I Learned from You", was credited to Cyrus as herself. The album peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.^[40]

Cyrus and her father, Billy Ray, performing "Ready, Set, Don't Go" at the Kids' Inaugural: "We Are the Future." – January 19, 2009; Washington D.C.

The second season of Hannah Montana premiered on April 23, 2007, and ran until October 12, 2008.^[41] Cyrus signed a four-album deal with Disney-owned Hollywood Records and, on June 26, 2007, released a double-disc album. The first disc was the soundtrack to the second season of Hannah Montana, while the second, titled Meet Miley Cyrus, was Cyrus's debut album credited to her own name. The double-disc album peaked at number one on the Billboard 200^[42] and was later certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[43] Meet Miley Cyrus generated "See You Again", Cyrus's first single to be released under her own name and her first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100.^[44] In fall 2007, Cyrus launched her first tour, the Best of Both Worlds Tour, to promote Meet Miley Cyrus and the Hannah Montana soundtracks. With the Jonas Brothers, Aly & AJ, and Everlife as her opening acts, Cyrus toured from October 17, 2007, to January 31, 2008, with stops in the U.S. and Canada.^[45] Tickets sold out in minutes and were scalped for up to $2,500 and an average of $214, well above their $26–$65 face value.^[46] A Ticketmaster official commented, "Hell hath no fury like the parent of a child throwing a tantrum. People who have been in this business for a long time are watching what's happening, and they say there hasn't been a demand of this level or intensity since The Beatles or Elvis."^[47]

[edit] 2008–09: Breakout, transitions and film career launch

Cyrus at 2008 MTV Video Music Awards

After the end of the Best of Both Worlds Tour in January 2008, Walt Disney Pictures released Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert, a 3D concert film of the tour, on February 1, 2008, for what was expected to be a one-week run. The film earned over $31 million^[48] at the box-office and an average of $42,000 per theater, twice the expected total, convincing Disney executives to extend the release for an indefinite run. "We don't want to turn away kids from the theaters who couldn't get into the concerts," said Chuck Viane, Disney's chief of distribution.^[49] The film's soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records/Hollywood Records on March 11, 2008, and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200.^[50]

On July 22, 2008, Cyrus released her second studio album under her own name, titled Breakout. Cyrus said Breakout was inspired by "what's been going on in my life in the past year."^[51] Cyrus co-wrote eight out of twelve songs on the album.^[51] "Songwriting is what I really want to do with my life forever, [...] I just hope this record showcases that, more than anything, I'm a writer."^[52] The album debuted at #1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart^[53] and its lead single, "7 Things", peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[54][55] She hosted the 2008 CMT Music Awards with her father in April^[56] and the 2008 Teen Choice Awards by herself in August.^[57] Cyrus provided the voice of Penny in the 2008 computer-animated film Bolt, which was released on November 21, 2008, to critical acclaim.^[58] Cyrus also co-wrote and recorded the song "I Thought I Lost You" as a duet with John Travolta for the film, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.^[59] In September 2009, she participated in the charity single "Just Stand Up!" in support of the anti-cancer campaign Stand Up to Cancer^[60] and in the City of Hope Benefit Concert in support of cancer research and training programs.^[61] She also became involved in Disney's Friends for Change, an environmentalist group, for which she recorded the charity single "Send It On" along with several other Disney Channel stars.^[62]

Cyrus performing on the Wonder World Tour

Cyrus had already begun transitioning to a more grown-up image in late 2008, when her representatives negotiated a deal for novelist Nicholas Sparks to write the screenplay and novel basis for a film that would serve as a star vehicle for Cyrus by introducing her to audiences older than the young fans she had gained through Hannah Montana.^[63] Sparks and co-writer Jeff Van Wie developed The Last Song.^[63] It was important to Cyrus that she not be type cast as a singer: "I didn't want to be a singer in another film. I don't want to do that anymore. You have no idea how many musicals show up on my door. I want to do something a little more serious."^[64] In March 2009, Cyrus published Miles to Go, a memoir co-written by Hilary Liftin chronicling her life through age sixteen.^[65] Cyrus starred as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in Hannah Montana: The Movie, released April 10, 2009. Both the film and its soundtrack, which contained twelve songs performed by Cyrus,^[66] achieved commercial success.^[67][68] The soundtrack's lead single, "The Climb", became a Top 40 hit in twelve countries^[69] and introduced Cyrus to listeners outside her typical teen pop audience.^[70] Cyrus had considered ending Hannah Montana after its third season, which finished production on June 5, 2009,^[71] but Disney retained and exercised its option for a fourth season.^[72]

Production on The Last Song lasted from June 15, 2009, to August 18, 2009.^[73] In between, Cyrus launched the third Hannah Montana soundtrack, recorded the extended play The Time of Our Lives (EP), and released the EP's lead single, "Party in the U.S.A."^[74] Cyrus said The Time of Our Lives "is a transitioning album. [...] really to introduce people to what I want my next record to sound like and with time I will be able to do that a little more."^[75] "Party in the U.S.A." debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for her best-ever ranking on the chart.^[76] The Time of Our Lives was released in conjunction with a clothing line co-designed by Cyrus and Max Azria for Walmart.^[77]

From September 14, 2009, to December 29, 2010, Cyrus toured on her Wonder World Tour to promote Breakout and The Time of Our Lives.^{[citation needed]} On December 7, 2009, Cyrus performed for Queen Elizabeth II and numerous other members of the British Royal Family at the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, North West England.^[78]

[edit] 2010–2011: Can't Be Tamed, focus on film career, and Gypsy Heart Tour

Cyrus at 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards soundcheck.

Production on the fourth and final season of Hannah Montana began on January 18, 2010.^[79] In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Cyrus appeared on the charity singles "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" and "Everybody Hurts".^[80][81] Her third studio album, Can't Be Tamed, was released on June 21, 2010. The album's first single is the title track, "Can't Be Tamed". The single was released for sale on May 18, 2010, and entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number eight.^[82] Cyrus's costumes and dances while promoting Can't Be Tamed were also considerably more provocative than previous performances, arousing media criticism.^[83] After releasing the album, Cyrus intends to take a break from the music industry in order to focus on her film career.^[84] She commented, "I've not taken, like, acting lessons or anything, but it doesn't mean I don't need to because I'm sure I do [...] I'm probably going to go book an acting coach."^[85] Cyrus has also decided to opt out of college for the same reason, saying "I'm a firm believer that you can go back at any age you want, because my Grandma went back to college at 62 [...] For right now, I really want to focus on my career. I've worked hard to get to where I am now, and I want to enjoy it while it lasts."^[86][87][88]

Cyrus starred in The Last Song, which was released on March 31, 2010, and received generally poor reviews, as did Cyrus's performance.^[89] Nonetheless, the film was commercially successful, grossing more than $88 million at the worldwide box office.^[90] According to box-office analyst Exhibitor Relations, the film marked "a successful transition to adult roles for Miley Cyrus."^[91] The fourth and final season of Hannah Montana began airing on Disney Channel on July 11, 2010, and was ended on January 16, 2011.^[92] Cyrus filmed two more films, LOL: Laughing Out Loud and So Undercover in 2010. In LOL, a remake of a 2008 French teen film of the same name, Cyrus plays "a daughter who is involved with all the wrong kids, doing drugs, failing school, but [...whose] mother has her on this perfect pedestal" and says "[She] just fell in love with the story."^[93] Cyrus' character loses her virginity, smokes cannabis, gets wasted and kisses two girlfriends on the lips.^[94] She will also star in So Undercover, an action comedy film. Cyrus will play the part of "a tough, street-smart private eye hired by the FBI to go undercover in a college sorority."^[95] She learned street fighting for the role.^[95]

Despite her earlier announcement that she'd be focusing more on acting in the future, in February 2011, Cyrus confirmed she had no films lineup and was going to go on tour.^[96] On April 29, 2011, Cyrus embarked on her international Gypsy Heart Tour in South America and ended the tour on July 2, 2011, in Australia. Cyrus hosted Saturday Night Live on March 5, 2011, where she performed in several sketches. She also sang a brief song about her several controversies, such as the bong incident, the photo of her friend and she eating a Twizzler, and the "pole dance" on a hotel pole at the Teen Choice Awards, stating "I'm sorry that I'm not perfect."^[97][98] In March 2011, father Billy Ray Cyrus confirmed on talk show, The View, that Cyrus had been in talks with producer Dr. Luke on a new album.^[99] In July 2011, it was announced that she would record her fourth studio album and she has no plans to sign onto any other film projects.^[100] However, it was reported on August 2, 2011, by Contact Music that Cyrus has signed on to star in a comedy in which she plays a woman who broke a promise to God.^[101]

Cyrus released on YouTube a remix of her song "Liberty Walk" in November 2011, dedicated to the Occupy movement, which she referred to as, "the thousands of people who are standing up for what they believe in."^[102]

[edit] 2012–present: LOL, So Undercover, and focus on music career

LOL came out on May 4th

In January 2012, it was announced that Cyrus would be on Punk'd. Cyrus would be on the show alongside friend and co-star in her new film So Undercover, Kelly Osbourne. Cyrus and Osbourne on an episode of the show would punk reality star and TV personality Khloé Kardashian Odom. They punk Khloe by having a young food delivery man pretends to get his family jewels caught in his zipper while using Miley's bathroom.^[103][104]

On January 24, the album Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International was released in honor of Bob Dylan, Cyrus covered Dylan's song "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" from his 15th studio album Blood on the Tracks, in which she also made a music video.^[105] Cyrus's version of the song earned positive reviews from music critics.^{[106][107][108]}

In February, Cyrus dropped out of the animated comedy Hotel Transylvania, in which she was meant to play the role of Mavis, the daughter of Dracula who is voiced by Adam Sandler, the movie also stars Andy Samberg, Kevin James, Fran Drescher, and David Spade.^[109] It was later announced that she will be replaced by fellow Disney star and friend Selena Gomez.^[110] She later announced that she dropped out of the film because she wanted to work on her music this year.^[111][112]

Earnings[link]

In 2008, Cyrus earned $25 million, up from her earnings of $18 million in 2007, and was ranked number 35 on Forbes magazine's "Celebrity 100" list.^[113] Parade magazine reported she was the richest teenage celebrity and that her franchise would be worth approximately $1 billion by the end of the year.^[114] In 2009, Forbes ranked her #29 on the Celebrity 100 and reported she had earned a total of $25 million.^[115] Then Cyrus got ranked number thirteen on Forbes' 2010 Celebrity 100 ranking $48 million.^[3] From the $48 million she made between June 2009 to June 2010 made her the no. 4 highest earners under 30 and the youngest on the list.^[116] between June 2010 and June 2011, Cyrus earned $54 million.^[117]

From working on Hannah Montana, Cyrus got paid $15,000 per episode she did on the hit show, making her the 6th highest paid child star on television behind fellow Disney stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse and Keke Palmer with $20,000 for their shows. Also, she is behind friend and Disney star Selena Gomez that makes $25,000 per episode of her show, Nick star Miranda Cosgrove with $180,000 per episode of her show, and one time co-star Angus T. Jones that got paid $250,000 for each episode of his show.^[118] Though she had not got paid as much as other Disney stars,when she was 17 she was named #19 on the "Top 20 World's Richest Female Singers Of All Time" list with over $100 million in 5 years active throughout her career, which made her the youngest female artist on the list.^[119] In 2011, she was named #1 on the "Top 10 Richest Teens in Hollywood" with $120 million.^[120]

Personal life and image[link]

Cyrus on the Red Carpet at VH1 Divas 2009

A Christian, she was baptized in a Southern Baptist church in 2005.^[121]

In February 2008, Cyrus and her friend Mandy Jiroux opened a YouTube account and began posting videos of what they called The Miley and Mandy Show. The show, described as a "YouTube hit," is said to be filmed for fun by Cyrus and Jiroux and to be entirely their work, with Cyrus and Jiroux editing the footage together.^[122]

With Cyrus's increased success came increased media attention. In a May 2008 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Francois Navarre, the proprietor of the X17 photo agency, said Cyrus's market value had picked up considerably after the Vanity Fair photo controversy: "She's started to sell more. [...] It used to be $300, and now it's $2,000 for a picture."^[123] Estimates for a picture of the then-15 year old's first kiss ranged from $30,000 to $150,000.^[123] Navarre noted that Cyrus rarely behaved against her wholesome image or went out without a parent and stated, "She has people waiting for the moment she starts to be less traditional. [...] It's natural. Any teenager. But it's going to come very fast. [...] As soon as her mom lets her go out by herself. It's going to start to be interesting."^[123] Time magazine included her on the 2008 Time 100, the magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Her write-up was written by former child star Donny Osmond, who warned, "As an idol to tweens the world over, singer-actress Miley Cyrus, 15, is riding a huge tidal wave at the pinnacle of her career; this is as it should be. I hope she enjoys it. [...] Within three to five years, Miley will have to face adulthood. [...] As she does, she'll want to change her image, and that change will be met with adversity."^[124]

Cyrus celebrated her 16th birthday at Disneyland with a charity fundraiser for Youth Service America, a youth volunteer service organization.^{[125][126][127]}

In June 2009, Cyrus ended her nine-month relationship with model Justin Gaston shortly before flying to Georgia to film The Last Song.^[128] While filming later that month, Cyrus began dating her co-star in The Last Song, Australian actor Liam Hemsworth.^[129] She later called him her "first serious boyfriend".^[130] In August 2010, it was confirmed that her relationship with Hemsworth had ended.^[131][132] Cyrus and Hemsworth were seen together a month later, and were reportedly back together.^[133] It was announced in early November that the couple had split again.^[134] They have since rekindled their relationship.^[135]

At the end of 2009, Billboard magazine ranked Cyrus the fourth best-selling female artist^[136] and the fifth best-selling singer overall.^[137] Also in 2009, at the age of sixteen, she became the youngest artist to have four number one albums on the charts.^[138]

Controversies[link]

Cyrus performing at the Kids Inaugural: We Are the Future concert in 2009.

In December 2007, a brief controversy emerged when photos Cyrus had posted on her private MySpace account, depicting her and a female friend sharing a piece of licorice and "almost kissing", were spread across the internet, prompting rumors of lesbianism. Cyrus comments, "For me, I was like, That's two girls—it's not a big deal. But they got spread around. Like someone copied and pasted and said, Omigod, look at this, and blah blah blah."^[139]

In April 2008, several provocative images of Cyrus in her underwear and swimsuit were leaked onto the web by a teenager who hacked Cyrus's Gmail account.^{[140][141][142][143]} Cyrus described the images as "silly, inappropriate shots" and stated, "I am going to make mistakes and I am not perfect. I never intended for any of this to happen and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone."^[144][145] On April 25, 2008, the televised entertainment program Entertainment Tonight reported that Cyrus, then 15, had posed topless for a photoshoot taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair.^[146] On April 29, 2008, The New York Times clarified that though the pictures left an impression that she was bare-breasted, Cyrus was wrapped in a bedsheet and was actually not topless.^[147] Some parents expressed outrage at the nature of the photograph, which a Disney spokesperson described as "a situation [that] was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines." Gary Marsh, president of entertainment for Disney Channel Worldwide, was quoted by Portfolio magazine to have said, "For Miley Cyrus to be a 'good girl' is now a business decision for her. Parents have invested in her a godliness. If she violates that trust, she won't get it back."^[147] In response to the Internet circulation of the photo and ensuing media attention, Cyrus released a statement of apology on April 27, 2008: "I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed. I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."^[147] Leibovitz also released a statement: "I'm sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted. The photograph is a simple, classic portrait, shot with very little makeup, and I think it is very beautiful."^[147][148]

In May 2008, Gossett, Cyrus's longtime acting agent, left Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty for United Talent Agency, partially with the hope of "giving Cyrus the major-agency backing that would support a widening career", according to The Hollywood Reporter.^[30][149] About a year later in June 2009, Cyrus left both Gossett and UTA, which had recently negotiated her deals for The Last Song and the fourth season of Hannah Montana, and joined the Creative Artists Agency, which had already represented her for music.^[150] Nikki Finke, who broke the news, reported, "Is this fair to UTA? Of course not. But I hear the decision was made by Miley's mother Trish [sic] Cyrus".^[151]

Cyrus performing during the Wonder World Tour, in 2009.

Cyrus's performance of "Party in the U.S.A." at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards incited a media uproar, with some viewers criticizing Cyrus's provocative outfit and inclusion of a brief pole dance as inappropriate for her age, then sixteen, and for her young fans.^[152][153] Conversely, Newsday reported that her sexualization "has been coming for some time."^[154] Ian Drew, senior editor of US Weekly, said, "She already has this risque image, so it really wasn't much of a stretch. That's how Britney [Spears] took off. She was the good girl gone bad, and it looks to be working for Miley as well."^[154] Cyrus was also criticized that year for dating Gaston, five years her senior,^[155] and for a photo displaying Cyrus and friends making "slant-eyed" expressions, which the Organization of Chinese Americans claimed was offensive to the Asian community.^[156] Cyrus apologized for the photo on her website, defending her actions and saying, "In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity! I was simply making a goofy face."^[157]

Later in 2010, TMZ released a video of Cyrus, then 16, giving Adam Shankman, producer of The Last Song, a lap dance at the film's wrap party.^{[158][159][160]} Cyrus's father defended her actions, saying Miley was just "having fun" and that "it's what people her age do".^[161] Later that year in December, TMZ released a video of Cyrus, which took place five days after her 18th birthday at her Los Angeles home, in which she is seen smoking from a bong. She claimed she was smoking the psychoactive plant salvia divinorum, although this has not been confirmed by anybody but Cyrus herself.^{[162][163][164]} Salvia is legal in the state of California, and Cyrus was of legal age at the time the video was shot.^[165] Cyrus's father expressed his sadness regarding the matter on Twitter, saying, "Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. I'm so sad. There is much beyond my control right now".^[166][167]

In a video obtained by The Daily, taking place at Cyrus' 19th birthday party at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, Cyrus went to the microphone and addressed the crowd. Immediately after her Bob Marley-themed birthday cake had been brought out, Cyrus said, "You know you're a stoner when your friends make you a Bob Marley cake. You know you smoke way too much f****n' weed."^[168] One week later, Cyrus' representative stated that Cyrus was just being a "smart-ass" and that the Bob Marley cake had just been an "inside joke" with Cyrus and her friends, as Cyrus' friend, Kelly Osbourne had been calling her "Bob Miley" since Cyrus' 2010 salvia incident.^[169]

Filmography[link]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• Meet Miley Cyrus (2007)
• Breakout (2008)
• Can't Be Tamed (2010)

Extended plays[link]

• The Time of Our Lives (2009)
• iTunes Live from London (2009)

Live albums[link]

• Best of Both Worlds Concert (2008)

Soundtracks[link]

• Hannah Montana (2006)
• Hannah Montana 2 (2007)
• Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
• Hannah Montana 3 (2009)
• Hannah Montana Forever (2010)

Tours[link]

• Best of Both Worlds Tour (2007–08)
• Wonder World Tour (2009)
• Gypsy Heart Tour (2011)

Awards and nominations[link]

See also[link]

	Book: Miley Cyrus
Wikipedia books are collections of articles that can be downloaded or ordered in print.

References[link]