Cyrus Circus

(Newser) - Photographer Annie Leibovitz is defending her controversial picture of 15-year-old Miley Cyrus, saying the shot for Vanity Fair has been "misinterpreted," CNN reports. "The photograph is a simple, classic portrait," Leibovitz said of the picture of a topless Cyrus with a towel covering her breasts. "I think it is very beautiful." More »

(Newser) - Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus is upset about provocative new Vanity Fair photos, including one showing her barely wrapped in a satin sheet on the cover, reports E! Online. The teen says she's now embarrassed by pics snapped by photographer Annie Leibovitz. The Disney Channel has accused Vanity Fair of manipulating the 15-year-old star, but magazine execs say Miley's parents were present during the shooting. More »

(Newser) - Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus, 15, has signed a seven-figure deal with Disney-Hyperion for a memoir, the New York Times reports today. The book will focus on her childhood in Tennessee and the positive influence of her mother on her career. It is scheduled to be released in spring 2009, coinciding with the upcoming Hannah Montana film. More »

(Newser) - Don't tell her achy-breaky dad, but risque photos of squeaky-clean Miley Cyrus have found their way to the Internet. The tween queen flashes a green lace bra and canoodles with a mystery teenage boy whose hands had better not travel any farther in photos likely to make Disney and dad frown, the Egotastic! blog reports. More »

(Newser) - Miley Cyrus has inked a multimillion-dollar deal with Disney Books to pen an autobiography of her short, sweet life, according to Ok! magazine. But don't think it'll read like some 15-year-old's homework assignment. The "hush-hush" tween queen is looking for a ghostwriter to put the young superstar's life to paper.  More »

(Newser) - Tonight’s "American Idol" will boast cameos from Miley Cyrus, Brad Pitt, and both the Manning and Jonas brothers—but the most anticipated appearances could be by Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama, the New York Post reports. The charity episode is exhibition-only (no candidate will actually score Paula Abdul’s vote), but there will be much pop-culture popularity at stake. More »

(Newser) - Young stars are defying the "sex sells" mantra by rising to success while emphasizing their virginity, ABC reports. Teen heart-throbs like Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, as well as older celebs like Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima, appear to be part of a growing modesty movement and say they're proud of their chaste status. But insiders wonder if some of the squeaky-clean images are merely a ploy to appeal to parents. More »

(Newser) - Kids love Miley Cyrus and flying green slime, and both graced the stage last night at the 21st annual Kids Choice Awards, where the Hannah Montana star was named both favorite singer and favorite TV actress. But while the squeaky-clean star stayed just that, celebs like Laila Ali, Orlando Bloom, and Usher braved showers of green goo, the AP reports. More »

(Newser) - Two names is enough for Miley Ray Cyrus, also known as Hannah Montana, E! Online reports. The teen superstar has filed to have her name legally changed from Destiny Hope Cyrus to Miley Ray Cyrus—the name her legions of fans know her by and the name her family has called her since she was a baby.  More »

(Newser) - Film execs looking to inject life into the dormant sphere of alternative content—showing concerts, sporting events, etc., in theaters—are turning their eyes toward teen star Miley Cyrus and her cash-cow alter ego, Hannah Montana. Cyrus dominated conversation today at an industry conference because her enormously popular 3-D concert film proved that the concept can work in the US, Variety reports. More »

(Newser) - Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, is in hot water, but not for breaking curfew or forgetting her homework. Consumer Reports is on the teen superstar's case for setting a bad example: not buckling her seatbelt. A scene in the 3-D blockbuster Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds shows Miley and her dad, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, riding in the back of a Range Rover unrestrained. More »

(Newser) - As their 3D concert film's weekend box office domination shows, the craze for Hannah Montana and alter ego Miley Cyrus isn't even close to slowing down. In a Q&A with the AP, Cyrus talks about the pressures of performing on tour: "I really have to be good. Especially when you hear what people are doing for tickets. It has to be perfect.” More »

(Newser) - Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds may be a vanilla production, and the songs its tween icon belts out during this big-screen 3D version of her concert are "fizzy" and "forgettable," writes Jan Stewart of Newsday . But those shortcomings are trumped by the fact that, at just 15 years old, pop star Cyrus is "insanely likable and talented, with poise and presence beyond her years," says AP's Christy Lemire. More »

(Newser) - Heartthrob singer Hannah Montana has pulled a switch on fans—using