Miley Cyrus is no stranger to challenging conventions, and her relationship with drummer Maxx Morando is no exception. She once famously declared that she preferred older partners. She told Joe Rogan on his podcast in 2020, “That’s why I’m looking for an older man”, but Miley Cyrus has seemingly flipped that script.
Since late 2021, she’s been dating Morando, who is six years her junior.
Born in November 1992, Cyrus turned 32 in 2024. Morando, born in 1998, turns 27 in late 2025. And while the age difference may have caught the attention of fans and tabloids alike, the couple appears more in sync than ever.
Their love story, which began after a date that wasn’t really blind, has been pretty low-key compared to Miley’s past relationships. But, they have made a few notable public appearances, like going to the 2024 Grammy Awards, the 2025 Oscars, and even strutting down the red carpet for SNL’s big 50th anniversary show.
Despite the age gap (and their millennial vs. Gen Z upbringing), sources say Cyrus is deeply in love and even open to marriage. But what really makes this relationship tick?
Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando Keep It Low-Key but Strong
Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando’s love story began with a blind date. Or at least, blind on her end. “I thought, ‘The worst that can happen is I leave,’” Cyrus told Vogue in May 2023. She didn’t leave. Instead, she stayed, and the rest was history.
Though the couple has kept their romance mostly private, fans have spotted them at Morando’s concerts and significant red carpet events. Most notably, they shared a kiss at Cyrus’ Grammys table in February 2024, the same night she snagged her first two Grammys. They were also seen in matching black looks at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2025, and Cyrus has shown up to support Morando’s band Liily multiple times, including gigs in West Hollywood and L.A.
Miley Cyrus and her boyfriend Maxx Morando at Vanity Fair oscar after party pic.twitter.com/6NpRKLeDT8
— MileyUpdates (@MileyUpdates) March 3, 2025
A source told People in early 2024 that the couple had moved in together. “Everyone loves Maxx. He’s a great guy. She is very happy with him. He’s private and doesn’t like being in the press. It’s been good for her.”
A source revealed to Us Weekly in December 2023 that Cyrus envisions a future with Maxx that’s good for her: healthy, happy, and full of potential. Marriage might be a possibility down the line, but it’s not something they’re racing towards.
The Gen Z-Millennial Divide
Cyrus has never shied away from being candid about the generational differences between her and Morando. Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar in November 2024, she noted, “He looks at life really differently than I do (…) He grew up with a laptop. I had a desktop computer I shared with my brothers and sisters.”
That digital-native upbringing shows in surprising ways, like when Morando raised their dog using advice from Reddit. “I’m like, Are you sure we’re supposed to be doing this? And he’s like, On Reddit it says blah, blah, blah,” she joked.
Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando in Reborn 🥹 pic.twitter.com/d3Lw7hTYyg
— MileyUpdates (@MileyUpdates) June 28, 2025
Despite their differing references and tech habits, Cyrus says, “He’s very similar to me. We just don’t take life too seriously.” That shared approach to life might just be what keeps their romance so grounded amid the scrutiny of fame.
When it comes to their relationship, he gives her the space to be phone-free when new albums drop, and their bond just seems to have grown so strong out of the spotlight. This couple with an age difference is definitely not just surviving. They’re thriving!
