How old is Max Morando? Miley Cyrus reveals she doesn’t mind being called cougar in relationship with boyfriend

Miley Cyrus made headlines at the 2025 Academy Awards, not just for her appearance but also for the company she kept. The singer arrived at the event with her longtime boyfriend, Maxx Morando, a 26-year-old drummer known for playing with the band Liily.

Although Morando isn’t often seen at celebrity events, Vogue noted that the duo has been together for four years. Their relationship has remained largely under the radar, but Miley hasn’t shied away from discussing it publicly, especially when it comes to their age difference.

On a June 19 episode of the Sorry We’re Cyrus podcast, the Grammy winner responded to her sister Brandi’s comment about them both being “cougars.” Miley embraced the term with a laugh, saying she enjoyed being the older partner in the relationship.

“He will be 27 when I turn 33, which I’m so excited for him to turn 27 ‘cause that was such a great year for me.” she shared.

Reflecting on that period in her own life, Miley Cyrus joked that Maxx had a strong example to follow.

“I’m just hoping that, as long as he follows in my footsteps, everything is going to be great, that’s right when I started turning my life around.”

Miley Cyrus openly admitted to being older than Maxx Morando, but she made it clear that age has little to do with why their relationship works. The singer credited Maxx’s traits over any generational dynamic on the podcast.

“He’s a Scorpio and so is his grandfather, that’s what makes Maxx just so cool because he can sting,” she noted.

“Like, [Scorpios are] very cool, think that they’re little angels, until it turns around and they got a sting.” added Miley.

“I couldn’t be with someone [who] doesn’t sting, they would have been toast already.” she explained in the end.

Miley Cyrus shares why her relationship with Maxx Morando works despite age gap:

Though six years separated them in age, Miley Cyrus found her relationship with Maxx Morando surprisingly grounded and refreshingly different.

In an interview featured in Harper’s Bazaar, the Grammy winner, born in late 1992, reflected on dating someone who belonged to a younger generation.

Morando brought a perspective that stood out to Cyrus in everyday life.

“He looks at life really differently than I do, he grew up with a laptop. I had a desktop computer that I shared with my brothers and sisters.” she shared

Even the couple’s approach to pet parenting highlighted that contrast. As she explained:

“Honestly, he’s raised our dog off 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.’”

Still, the pop star saw more similarities than differences. Speaking about Morando, Miley Cyrus added:

“He’s very similar to me. We just don’t take life too seriously.”

Miley Cyrus’s mom says she’s proud of all her daughters

Tish Cyrus had nothing but glowing words for her daughters’ current relationships. Appearing on the Sorry We’re Cyrus podcast with guest Harry Jowsey, the mother of Miley, Noah, and Brandi Cyrus reflected on her family’s romantic lives with warmth and pride.

“All my girls are in such super-healthy, amazing relationships,” she shared.

While she expressed her happiness for her daughters, Tish also spoke about how their approach to love contrasted with her own.

“I love love and I think that they have been much more cautious in love than I was, and taken longer to make sure it's the right person,” she explained,

Tish seemingly referenced lessons she learned from her own experiences, including her marriage to Billy Ray Cyrus.