Miley Cyrus and her mysterious long-term beau have kept things pretty quiet throughout the span of their four-year relationship.
Making only sporadic public appearances as a couple, you’d be forgiven for overlooking the pop superstar’s under-the-radar relationship altogether.
But Cyrus has now made the ultimate show of commitment, stepping out at the premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ice to flaunt a very conspicuous ring alongside her husband-to-be. So who exactly is the man who has won the heart of the free-spirited star?
Meet Maxx Morando, drummer for the Los Angeles indie rock band Liily – and now, Miley Cyrus’s new fiancé.
Six years Cyrus’ junior, 27-year-old Morando was born in 1998 in Los Angeles, California, and began his music training at the famed School of Rock at the age of just eight.
He first tentatively emerged into the music scene in 2015, cutting his teeth playing drums for punk-rock outfit The Regrettes until 2018.
Morando’s music career then quietly flourished within Liily, where he’s drawn inspiration from rock and punk icons such as Keith Moon and Phil Collins, respectively.
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Then one fateful night in 2021 – a year after Cyrus called it quits with Aussie musician Cody Simpson – the emerging rocker met his future fiancée on a blind date.
Cyrus previously opened up about the chance encounter to British Vogue, saying she made an impulsive decision to give the date a go.
“I thought, the worst that can happen is I leave.”
The pair were first linked in late 2021 after attending Gucci’s Love Parade show in Los Angeles. But what initially appeared to fans as a fleeting flirtation, soon proved to be something far more enduring.
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Within a matter of weeks, the fledgling couple was spotted cosying up backstage during the Midnight Sky singer’s NBC holiday special, Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party.
When they were spotted kissing in West Hollywood months later, it seemed Cyrus and Morando had officially gone public with their relationship.
The notably low-key, stoic star went on to become a long-time collaborator of Cyrus’s, though his creative reach extends far beyond musical pursuits.
Morando also dabbles in visual arts and fashion design, helping to mastermind one of Cyrus’ many bold festival looks back in 2021 in conjunction with fellow designer Shane Kastl.
The drummer’s public profile surged as their collaborative efforts brought about some of Cyrus’s most notable recent works.
Morando contributed to Endless Summer Vacation, the 2023 album that marked one of Cyrus’ most defining chapters, co-producing hits “Violet Chemistry” and “Handstand.”
He later took on a larger role in her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful, producing several more tracks and co-writing the title song.
In an Instagram post, Morando described the album as “the sickest project I have ever been apart of,” going on to sweetly thank Cyrus for including him in the process.
The Hannah Montana alum has been noticeably protective of her relationship this time around, seemingly preferring to keep it out of the public eye and away from media scrutiny.
This marks a pointed pivot from previous, higher-profile relationships for the star.
Cyrus came of age in the public eye, and her various love interests over the years have served as direct reflections of the many ups and downs of her illustrious career.
Miley Cyrus’ evolution over the last decade
She was previously married to actor Liam Hemsworth for less than a year – from December 2018 to August 2019.
Hemsworth recently announced his own engagement to long-time love Gabriella Brooks, who he was first linked to in 2019.
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