Trace Cyrus Thinks He’d Be “Much More Successful” Without a Famous Family

Growing up in a family of stars comes with a unique set of challenges. As Trace Cyrus discussed in a Q&A via Instagram Stories on Aug. 28, he has lots of love for his talented family, but when your sisters are Miley and Noah Cyrus, people are often quick to cast judgment.

“I love my family so much, but I think I’d be much more successful if I wasn’t part of a famous family,” he wrote in response to a fan’s question about being in the spotlight. “People immediately want to judge me and discredit all my hard work because of who I’m related to, but that’s so far from the truth. I got a record deal without anyone from my label even knowing who I was related to till after they signed me.”

Despite having such a well-known family, the 34-year-old musician worked to create a name for himself as the backing vocalist and guitarist for the band Metro Station. He added that it was easier to keep his identity private in the beginning of his career, when “Hannah Montana” was still relatively new. “I never put my last name online anywhere for the first years of my career until people started finding out,” he said.

“When my band started taking off Miley had just started ‘Hannah Montana’ so people weren’t even familiar with it,” he continued. “I was touring in other countries when people didn’t even know who Miley was and they definitely didn’t expect me to be the son of a country music singer because I never brought it up.” Still, while fame can get exhausting, it’s definitely not all bad. “Sometimes I wish people didn’t know who I was but I always want more money. Money = freedom,” he wrote in response to a fan asking if he ever wished he didn’t have money or fame.

Fame may have its moments, but Trace also expressed gratitude for his family at mom Tish Cyrus’s wedding, posting with his sisters Miley and Brandi. “I feel extremely blessed to be part of such an amazing family,” he wrote on Aug. 27. “Congrats to my mom on a beautiful wedding. Life is unpredictable & always full of changes. I think the most important thing to do is cherish the past, look forward to the future, & always be happy in the present moment because that’s really all we have.”

While he continues to make his own music with Metro Station, Trace isn’t above a public family appearance every now and then. Back in October 2022, he joined Noah to perform “Shake It” together at her concert. “So proud of you Noie! You put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen,” he wrote on Instagram. He also stepped out with Miley at the Tom Ford fashion show in 2020 and celebrated with Brandi in Tampa for her birthday weekend. Is a Cyrus family collab on the horizon? Only time will tell . . .

Related: Miley Cyrus Tears Up Discussing Childhood With Billy Ray Cyrus: “It Makes Me Emotional”