While speaking with Entertainment Tonight at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards on Saturday, Jan. 3, the 33-year-old singer admitted that she still feels awkward referring to Morando, 27, as her fiancé. She shared that using the term makes her cringe slightly, explaining that she tends to feel dorky about labels and formal titles when it comes to relationships.
Cyrus went on to reflect on how the timing of the engagement felt especially meaningful. She connected the moment to her involvement in the upcoming film Avatar: Fire and Ash, which features her song "Dream as One" on the soundtrack. According to the singer, working on the project during this period of her life felt deeply aligned with where she is emotionally.
She explained that director James Cameron places a strong emphasis on relationships in his storytelling, regardless of their form. For Cyrus, being able to show up with joy and experience love authentically has allowed her to better support the message at the heart of the film. She described the engagement as something that naturally fell into her life when she felt ready and grounded.
The Grammy winner also briefly touched on her family life, including her older sister Brandi Cyrus' recent engagement to Matt Southcombe, which Brandi announced in late December. Miley shared that her family values staying grounded and authentic at home. While they are all performers, she said they prefer a relaxed and genuine environment away from the spotlight.
PEOPLE confirmed in early December that Cyrus and Morando, a drummer for the band Liily, had gotten engaged after four years of dating. Speculation began when Cyrus appeared at the Avatar: Fire and Ash world premiere in Los Angeles wearing a diamond ring on her left hand.
Speaking with PEOPLE the following day, Cyrus opened up about what surprised her most about being engaged. She shared that maintaining privacy and keeping the experience intimate has been both intentional and rewarding. She added that growing older has made her more protective of what she chooses to share publicly.
Days later, Cyrus joked about her engagement during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, revealing that Morando has been especially helpful with her unusual aversion to paper. Laughing, she explained that having a fiancé willing to handle packaging and boxes has been an unexpected perk of their relationship.
