Before Miley Cyrus found love with her rockstar beau, Maxx Morando, she and Liam Hemsworth had a whirlwind romance for over a decade. Miley and Liam met when they were bbs on the set of the Nicholas Sparks movie, The Last Song, and went on to get engaged (twice!) and married in 2018. Less than a year after marriage, Miley and Liam broke up in August 2019 and finalized their divorce in January 2020. A few years later, Miley seemingly wrote a whole Grammy-winning, record-breaking song about her freedom—it's called "Flowers," ever heard of it?
We're diving into allll the drama surrounding their divorce (starting with their marriage), but if you want a rundown of everything leading up to that, you can find it right here:
A Crash Course on Miley and Liam
Here’s Your Comprehensive Timeline of Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s 10-Year Relationship
Check Out the Full Lyrics to “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, Which Twitter Fully Thinks Is About Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus Recalls the Day She Decided Her Marriage to Liam Hemsworth Was "No Longer Going to Work"
Without further ~ado~, here's Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's full divorce drama timeline.
December 23, 2018
According to Instagram pics and videos, Miley and Liam seem to have had a low-key wedding ceremony surrounded by friends and family.
July 11, 2019
During her cover story interview with Elle, Miley admits she doesn't like being referred to as someone's wife, saying, "Do people really think that I'm at home in a fucking apron cooking dinner? I'm in a hetero relationship, but I still am very sexually attracted to women. I made a partner decision. This is the person I feel has my back the most. I definitely don't fit into a stereotypical wife role. I don’t even like that word."
August 10, 2019
Us Weekly reported that Miley posted (and eventually deleted) a pic without her wedding ring during a vacation with Kaitlynn Carter. "Mute me if you don't want SPAMMED," Miley captioned the pic. Per pics obtained by Entertainment Tonight, Miley was also cuddling up to Kaitlynn and kissing her by the pool, causing breakup rumors to swirl.
That night, a rep for Miley confirmed that she and Liam were separating, telling outlets like Us Weekly and People, "Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time. Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what's best while they both focus on themselves and careers. They still remain dedicated parents to all of their animals they share while lovingly taking this time apart. Please respect their process and privacy."
August 11, 2019
Miley seemingly addresses her divorce with a lengthy Instagram caption, writing:
"Don’t fight evolution, because you will never win. Like the mountain I am standing on top of, which was once under water, connected with Africa, change is inevitable. The Dolomites were not created overnight, it was over millions of years that this magnificent beauty was formed. My dad always told me ‘Nature never hurries, but it is always on time’...it fills my heart with peace and hope KNOWING that is true. I was taught to respect the planet and its process and I am committed to doing the same with my own....💙"
August 12, 2019
Liam followed suit, releasing his own statement via an Instagram post. "Just a quick note to say that Miley and I have recently separated and I wish her nothing but health and happiness going forward," he wrote.
That same day, a report from Us Weekly claimed that Miley initiated the end of their relationship. "Miley was the one who ended things with Liam....They haven’t been together for months," an anonymous source told the outlet.
August 14, 2019
Another source told People that Liam's alleged partying habits ultimately led Miley to leave their relationship. "Everyone always thinks Miley is problematic and immature and a hard-core partier while he’s this chill surfer dude, but that’s actually [not accurate]," the insider said. "Liam parties with his friends, and Miley thinks he should’ve grown out of that by now."
August 16, 2019
Miley released her breakup anthem, "Slide Away," which alludes to Liam's alleged partying habits and includes lyrics like:
"Move on, we're not 17 / I'm not who I used to be / You say that everything changed / You're right, we're grown now"
"So won't you slide away / Back to the ocean, I'll go back to the city lights"
The song was reportedly about her split from Liam, as she met him while filming The Last Song when she was 17.
August 21, 2019
TMZ reported that Liam filed for divorce due to "irreconcilable differences." An insider told the outlet that the former couple had signed a prenup and since they didn't have children, it should be smooth sailing.
Another source told Entertainment Tonight why Liam wanted to end their marriage, saying, "Liam’s decision to file for divorce is sad, but in the end, it was never going to work....They are too different. Liam never wanted to share Miley with anyone. He loves her and he is far too traditional. He finally realized he just wants to start fresh."
August 22, 2019
Miley popped off on Twitter when she shared her side of the story and debunked rumors that she had cheated on Liam. "I can accept that the life I’ve chosen means I must live completely open and transparent with my fans who I love, and the public, 100% of the time. What I cannot accept is being told I’m lying to cover up a crime I haven’t committed. I have nothing to hide," she wrote at the beginning of her lengthy thread.
After addressing drama from her teen days (bong ripping, penis cakes, and all), Miley got candid about her relationship with Liam, writing, "But the truth is, once Liam & I reconciled,I meant it, & I was committed. There are NO secrets to uncover here. I’ve learned from every experience in my life. I’m not perfect, I don’t want to be, it’s boring. I’ve grown up in front of you, but the bottom line is, I HAVE GROWN UP."
"I can admit to a lot of things but I refuse to admit that my marriage ended because of cheating. Liam and I have been together for a decade," she continued. "I’ve said it before & it remains true, I love Liam and always will."
August 23, 2019
TMZ reported that Miley would have full custody of her 15 pets with Liam—who wasn't really fighting to keep the animals at the time.
August 26, 2019
Miley gave an emotional performance of "Slide Away" at the MTV Video Music Awards.
September 16, 2019
Per an insider on Page Six, Liam learned about his breakup on Instagram. The actor was allegedly in Australia and "blindsided by the statement" Miley's rep shared the month before.
September 21, 2019
Miley and Kaitlynn reportedly break up nearly a month after their Italian getaway, according to People.
October 5, 2019
Miley cheekily confirmed she was dating Cody Simpson after they were spotted kissing on a brunch date via Instagram Stories:
Lol at "Australian (my type)."
December 16, 2019
The Daily Mail released photos of Liam and his parents out and about with Australian model Gabriella Brooks, whom he was rumored to be dating at the time.
December 24, 2019
TMZ reported that Miley and Liam had settled their divorce. Since they didn't have kids and it was already decided that the "Mother's Daughter" singer would keep their animals, their prenup made dividing properties easier. The outlet also claimed that "the divorce was marked by significant bitterness on both sides, but that seems to have subsided as they decided it’s better to move on than fight."
January 28, 2020
Miley and Liam's divorce was officially finalized per court documents obtained by Billboard via the Associated Press.
April 7, 2020
Months after their divorce was settled, a source dished to Entertainment Tonight about Miley and Liam. "Liam loved Miley so much, but in the back of his mind, he always knew a life with her would prove difficult because she never seemed ready to settle down," the insider said, adding that "Liam wanted a marriage and family" and that his new girlfriend, Gabriella Brooks, "can almost be described as the opposite of Miley."
Miley reportedly "just wants Liam to be happy," according to the source, who explained, "She knows how important love and marriage are for him, but she just needed her independence. Miley and Liam have moved on and it seems they’re both where they most want to be in life."
August 14, 2020
As she promoted her new single, "Midnight Sky," on Instagram Live, Miley revealed that she and Cody called it quits. TMZ reported the news via a "reliable source," but Miley cleared things up in her live stream, saying:
"A year ago, almost to this exact date, the media tried to tell my story for me and control my narrative, and I’m just not accepting that. And so today, it came out that me and my boyfriend have broken up. It was confirmed by a ‘reliable source’ even though no one is reliable in a relationship except the individuals who are participating in it. But right now, two halves can’t make a whole and we’re individually just working on ourselves to become the people that we wanna be, like everybody else at this age. We are just deciding who we wanna be with our lives, what we wanna do with our lives, and so, don’t make it some drama story if next week we’re out hanging out, getting pizza. We’ve been friends for 10 years and we’re going to continue to be friends, so just don’t make it something that it is not."
September 2, 2020
Miley made an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast and opened up about her separation from Liam and relationship with Kaitlynn. "What really sucked about it wasn't the fact that me and someone that I loved realized that we don't love each other the way that we used to anymore. That's OK, I can accept that. I can't accept the villainizing and just all those stories," she said.
"It's just amazing to me that the public kind of thinks that there's no gap of time that they didn't see that could possibly be what led to this," she continued. "Like it's not 'One day you were happy on the carpet and the next day you were making out with your friend in Italy, what the fuck?' Well, there was a lot of time in between that that you didn't see."
November 27, 2020
Miley released her album Plastic Hearts, and fans theorized that a few songs pulled inspiration from her relationship with Liam. First up is "WTF Do I Know?" with lyrics like:
"I'm the type to drive a pickup through your mansion / I'm completely naked but I'm making it fashion / Maybe gettin' married just to cause a distraction / Here to tell you somethin' that you don't know."
"Am I wrong that I moved on and I / And I don't even miss you? / Thought that it'd be you until I die / But I let go."
Aaand then there was "Angels Like You," which might also have ties to Kaitlynn or Cody:
"Flowers in hand, waiting for me / Every word in poetry / Won't call me by name, only 'baby' / The more that you give, the less that I need / Everyone says I look happy / When it feels right."
"I know that you're wrong for me / Gonna wish we never met on the day I leave," she continues. "I brought you down to your knees / 'Cause they say that misery loves company / It's not your fault I ruin everything / And it's not your fault I can't be what you need / Baby, angels like you can't fly down here with me."
December 2, 2020
During an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Miley opened up about "WTF Do I Know?" and likened her songwriting process to catching a firefly in a jar. "When I write a song, that's what I feel like. Cause I feel like I'm capturing something that is free and that I maybe only feel for a second. It doesn't have to be my identity, but it has to be a part of me somewhere," she explained.
"'WTF Do I Know,' it’s not that it's how I feel every second of the day, it's how I felt for a moment," she added. "That works as some sort of protective armor and there's a sense of myself that does feel that way. A record is all of these mason jars filled with something that lights up, that you catch something that's kind of magical for a moment, but it doesn’t have to be you all the time."
She also added that "there was too much conflict" in her relationship with Liam and "when I come home, I want to be anchored by someone. I don’t get off on drama or fighting." She admitted she still has love for Liam, though, saying, "I really do and did love him very, very, very much and still do, always will."
Per Entertainment Tonight, Liam wasn't bothered by Miley speaking her truth. "Liam Hemsworth isn’t upset by the recent interview Miley did where she says there was too much conflict in their marriage. Liam was very hurt when they initially broke up, but he has moved on now and is happy with Gabriella," an insider told the outlet. "He’s very traditional and Gabriella shares the same values as him and gets along with his family. Their relationship is easygoing and they have similar upbringings and backgrounds."
January 13, 2023
A couple of years go by as Miley and Liam do their own thing and focus on their new relationships. How! Ever! Miley dropped her record-breaking Grammy-winning single, "Flowers," on January 13—AKA Liam's birthday.
Fans made other connections that might allude to her relationship with Liam, such as:
The song also interpolates Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and Bruno Mar's "When I Was Your Man," the latter of which Liam allegedly dedicated to Miley at one point in their relationship.
March 10, 2023
Miley's 10th album, Endless Summer Vacation, is released, and fans think other tracks like "Jaded" and "Muddy Feet" could potentially allude to her decade-long relationship with Liam. On "Jaded," she reflects on a past relationship that "went to hell but never came back":
"Isn’t it a shame that it ended like that / Said goodbye forever but you never unpacked / We went to hell but we never came back"
"I’m sorry that you’re jaded / I could’ve taken you places / You’re lonely now and I hate it / I’m sorry that you’re jaded."
"Muddy Feet" with Sia, on the other hand, seemingly describes a situation involving infidelity:
"You smell like perfume that I didn't purchase / Now I know why you've been closing the curtains, ah / Get the fuck out of my house"
May 18, 2023
Miley graced the cover of British Vogue, where she dished on whether "Flowers" was about Liam. "I never need to be a master at the craft of tricking an audience," she said, shrugging. "It will set itself on fire all by itself."
"I wrote it in a really different way. The chorus was originally: 'I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand, but I can't love me better than you can.' It used to be more, like, 1950s. The saddest song. Like: 'Sure, I can be my own lover, but you’re so much better,'" she explained. "The song is a little fake it till you make it, which I'm a big fan of."
September 7, 2023
In a TikTok series teasing her single "Used to be Young," Miley revisited memories from her past—including the end of her 10-year relationship with Liam. In the clip, she reflected on the moment she knew things weren't working out with her ex-husband. "So, I just want to slow down," Miley said. "I have to slow down because this is actually serious. So Glastonbury was in June, which is when the decision had been made that...me and Liam’s commitment to being married just—really came from, of course, a place of love first because we had been together for 10 years, but also from a place of trauma and just trying to rebuild as quickly as we could."
She continued, "The day of the show was the day I decided that it was no longer going to work in my life to be in that relationship. So that was another moment where the work, the performance, the character came first, and I guess that's why it's now so important to me for that to not be the case. That the human comes first."
![tribeca festival opening night](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/aubrey-paige-petcosky-and-ryan-seacrest-attend-the-halftime-news-photo-1714133130.jpg?crop=0.681xw:1.00xh;0.160xw,0&resize=360:* "Tribeca Festival Opening Night - "Halftime" Premiere")
