On September 18, 2025, Miley Cyrus released Secrets, a deeply personal ballad from the deluxe edition of her latest album Something Beautiful. The track features two rock legends: Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood — both of Fleetwood Mac fame.
Background & Emotional Roots
Secrets isn’t just another song. It began as a gift to her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, for his 64th birthday. Miley wrote it from a place of longing, hoping to bridge the rough distance that had grown between them after his divorce in 2022.
Miley has said she wanted her dad to feel safe enough to share even the hardest truths with her. The song reflects the ache of holding family secrets, while also offering forgiveness and understanding. In many ways, it is both a confession and an invitation for healing.
Musical & Lyrical Elements
- Instrumentation & Collaborators: The presence of Buckingham and Fleetwood adds weight and depth. Their signature guitar and rhythmic textures give the track a timeless rock-tinged atmosphere, grounding Miley’s vulnerable vocals.
- Lyrics & Theme: The song wrestles with themes of trust, hidden truths, and the fragile strength of love. Lines like “Secrets, I want to keep your secrets / Like sunlight in the shadows / Like footsteps in the grass…” highlight the delicate dance between concealment and closeness.
- Tone & Delivery: Miley sings with restraint and intimacy. The performance isn’t flashy; it’s raw and earnest, giving the impression that the listener is eavesdropping on a private moment.
Symbolism & Significance
- Generational Bridge: Working with Buckingham and Fleetwood honors her father’s generation of music, while also situating Miley within a broader rock lineage.
- Family & Healing: The song doubles as a personal peace offering — a way of reaching back toward her father with empathy, despite past wounds.
- Artistic Maturation: Secrets underscores Miley’s evolution as an artist. She has moved from bold provocations to deeply personal storytelling, unafraid to let vulnerability take center stage.
Reception & Release Context
Secrets was released as part of the Something Beautiful deluxe edition, alongside another new track, Lockdown with David Byrne. Critics and fans have hailed Secrets as one of Miley’s most affecting songs to date — both for its honesty and the powerhouse collaboration behind it.
What “Secrets” Asks of Its Listener
At its heart, Secrets is not just Miley’s story. It invites listeners to think about their own hidden truths, about the trust it takes to share them, and the forgiveness it takes to hold them. The song is a reminder that vulnerability is its own kind of strength — and that even in families where love gets tangled, healing is still possible.
Comments
0 comment