Miley Cyrus' Dad Billy Ray Defends Her Over Recent Controversy: "That's Still My Miley!"

20 September 2013, 09:33 | Updated: 20 September 2013, 09:36

The 'Wrecking Ball' star's dad says Miley has worked incredibly hard to evolve as a recording artist.

Miley Cyrus' father Billy Ray has defended his daughter over her recent image change and controversial moments in recent months, saying she is "just Miley" and is a "real" artist.

The 'We Can't Stop' singer's dad, a huge country star in his own right, says Miley has "harnessed something very special" and credits her for evolving as an artist and not just "staying Hannah Montana forever".

"For me to think how hard she's worked to get to this point, and what a risk," Billy revealed on Piers Morgan Tonight this week. "Just the fact that she went and cut her hair off.

"She could have stayed Hannah Montana forever and made a great living doing that but she's more of an artist with that," he explained. "Miley's is a very smart young lady. Reinvention is tough. You either find it or you don't.

"Miley's smart enough to know that to come out of the shadows of Hannah Montana it really takes something extremely drastic," Billy explained. "When you go to that level it creates passion.

She's just Miley. She's an artist, she's real," he added. "I think that it's all of what everyone is calling controversy now, that's still my Miley."

Miley Cyrus is set to release new album 'Bangerz' on 7th October, and unveiled a series of alternate album covers earlier this week.