Summary:
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Miley Cyrus reached out to Chappell Roan after the singer spoke out about the pressures of rapid stardom.
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Roan’s rise to fame came with public scrutiny, leading Cyrus and other industry figures to offer support and advice.
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Cyrus, who knows the psychological costs of fame, defended Roan and showed solidarity in navigating the industry’s challenges.
When Chappell Roan began speaking out about the pressures of overnight stardom, Miley Cyrus picked up the phone.
In a new cover story for Variety, Cyrus revealed that she was among the first to reach out to Roan after the “Good Luck, Babe!” singer publicly spoke out about the toll of rapid stardom, calling out what she described as predatory fan behavior and setting strict personal boundaries.
“I never bow down to bullies. Anytime I feel like somebody is being bullied, I feel very protective of them,” Cyrus told the outlet. “When I see people struggling, I’m always the first one to ask, ‘Can I get in contact with them?’ I’d like to show artists how they can have a balanced life.”
Roan’s rise to fame over the past two years has been one of pop music’s most dramatic. In a matter of months, she went from an acclaimed underground act to a fully fledged superstar and major chart success, a trajectory that came with significant public scrutiny. In August 2024, Roan took to TikTok to call out fans for not respecting her privacy, citing stalking, yelling, and online abuse after she refused to take photos.
Cyrus, who grew up in the public eye as the star of Disney’s “Hannah Montana,” has long been candid about the psychological costs of child and young-adult fame. She was not the only industry figure to step up. Charli XCX was also among the first to contact Roan, warning her it was “about to get really hard,” and Lorde connected with her to share advice about coping with what she described as “abusive” fame.
The show of solidarity between Cyrus and Roan carries particular weight given their shared history. Roan has spoken about Cyrus’ influence on her career, praising her for constantly reinventing herself while remaining authentic. Roan also revealed that Cyrus invited her to a party during her meteoric rise, a surreal moment given that the “Hannah Montana” concert tour had been Roan’s first ever live show as a child.
Cyrus addressed Roan’s situation separately in a November 2024 Harper’s Bazaar cover story, where she also defended the younger artist. “I wish people would not give her a hard time,” she said at the time. “It’s probably really hard coming into this business with phones and Instagram.”
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