Miley Cyrus‘ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, is a country star, and she found fame recording pop songs as Hannah Montana. That might make it surprising to learn that her first-ever concert was by a hair metal band.

Speaking to New York magazine’s The Cut in a joint interview with mom Tish Cyrus-Purcell and sisters Brandi Cyrus and Noah Cyrus, Miley says that the family listened to all kinds of music. “My first concert was Warrant, so that says a lot,” Miley says of the big-haired band best known for their salacious hit “Cherry Pie” and their ballad “Heaven.”

Miley recalled the memory with her trademark humor, painting a vivid picture of the wild circumstances surrounding the night. According to her, the experience wasn’t just about seeing Warrant live but also about the chaotic moments that came with it. She explained that during the concert, her leg got stuck in one of the chairs, which quickly escalated into a scene when “two drunken men picked up her child and put me on their shoulders.” For young Miley, the inconvenience didn’t matter as much as the fact that she was finally seeing the band she wanted. “I was like, ‘Oh man, if only I could see Warrant, this would be so much better,’” she recalled to her mother. The story, both hilarious and slightly absurd, offers a glimpse into the free-spirited way Tish raised her children and how music of all genres played an influential role in Miley’s development.

The Warrant concert story highlights the kind of musical diversity that surrounded Miley growing up. With Billy Ray’s country roots, her godmother Dolly Parton’s influence, and her mother’s willingness to take her to everything from glam rock shows to boy band performances, Miley grew up immersed in a buffet of genres. This eclectic exposure perhaps explains the genre-bending nature of her own career, which has seen her move seamlessly from pop to rock, hip-hop collaborations, country-inspired ballads, and most recently, her critically acclaimed era of mature pop rock anthems. The fact that her first taste of live music came from an ’80s hair metal band says a lot about the freedom and range of influence that shaped her artistry.

Miley also fondly remembered another early concert experience her mother took her to: O-Town, one of the quintessential boy bands of the early 2000s. However, that night didn’t quite go as planned. According to Miley, Tish cut the evening short by telling her daughter that she had school the next day, even though it wasn’t true. Miley still laughs about the memory, saying, “I said, ‘Mom, I’ll have school 100 days this year; I’ve got one night to see Ashley Parker Angel.’ The kids today, they don’t understand what it’s like to be in the pit at O-Town in downtown Nashville.” This memory, equal parts nostalgic and playful, shows the tension between being a typical kid obsessed with pop idols and being raised by a mother trying to balance fun with responsibility.

“The fact that you took your child to see Warrant and my leg got stuck in one of the chairs, and two drunken men picked up her child and put me on their shoulders — I needed to see Warrant,” Miley says to her mom. “I was like, ‘Oh man, if only I could see Warrant, this would be so much better.’”

Miley also recalls that her mom took her to see early 2000s boy band O-Town, but made her leave early by lying and telling her she had school the next day.

“I said, ‘Mom, I’ll have school 100 days this year; I’ve got one night to see Ashley Parker Angel‘ … the kids today, they don’t understand what it’s like to be in the pit at O-Town in downtown Nashville.”

Also in the interview, Miley claims, “Mom’s always wanted me to stay with the wrong guy ’cause they’re hot.”

“I ended up with a person who means a lot to me and treats me really well and respects me,” Miley says of her current beau, Maxx Morando. “Mom never really put that on the top three of her must-haves. Mom was like, ‘They need to be tall.’”

Miley Cyrus has never been shy about sharing stories from her unconventional upbringing, and her latest revelation about her first concert proves just how eclectic her early influences were. While most fans might assume that, as the daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus, her first live show would be rooted in Nashville’s country tradition, Miley has set the record straight. In a joint interview with her mother Tish Cyrus-Purcell and sisters Brandi and Noah for New York Magazine’s The Cut, the pop star admitted that her first-ever concert experience was actually Warrant, a hair metal band best known for their raucous hit “Cherry Pie” and the ballad “Heaven.” For a Disney Channel alum who rose to fame as the squeaky-clean Hannah Montana, the idea of her earliest concert being a glam-metal extravaganza is as surprising as it is endearing.

The stories about Warrant and O-Town may seem like lighthearted anecdotes, but they reveal deeper truths about the Cyrus family dynamic. Music wasn’t just entertainment for them—it was a lifestyle. Whether it was classic country, glitzy hair metal, or bubblegum pop, Miley was surrounded by an environment where every genre had a place. That inclusivity likely shaped her into the versatile performer she is today, one who can headline Glastonbury with a rock-driven set and then release a pop anthem like “Flowers” that dominates global charts. Her musical journey mirrors the variety of influences she grew up with, starting with an unlikely first concert that set the tone for a career defined by risk-taking and reinvention.

In the same interview, Miley and her mom shifted from music memories to more personal conversations, offering insights into their family dynamics and relationships. Miley teased her mother by claiming that Tish had “always wanted me to stay with the wrong guy ’cause they’re hot.” While the comment was clearly made with affection, it highlighted the playful yet candid way the family interacts with each other. For Miley, who has had her romantic relationships scrutinized in the public eye for years, the remark carried a mix of humor and honesty. It also served as a reminder of how much she values her mother’s influence, even when she doesn’t necessarily agree with it.

Discussing her current relationship with musician Maxx Morando, Miley explained how he represents something different from what her mom might have emphasized in the past. “I ended up with a person who means a lot to me and treats me really well and respects me,” she said. “Mom never really put that on the top three of her must-haves. Mom was like, ‘They need to be tall.’” The remark, lighthearted as it was, underscored Miley’s growth in choosing partners who align with her values rather than superficial qualities. In many ways, this parallels the evolution of her career, where she has learned to prioritize authenticity and self-expression over conforming to expectations.

These layered anecdotes—from being hoisted on strangers’ shoulders at a Warrant concert to fighting for a few more minutes at an O-Town show—paint a vivid picture of Miley’s upbringing in a household that embraced both chaos and creativity. They also show the close bond between Miley and her mom, a relationship that has always played a central role in her life. Tish has long been one of Miley’s biggest champions, guiding her career while also allowing her the freedom to explore and make her own choices. Their mother-daughter dynamic remains one of the strongest constants in Miley’s unpredictable journey through fame.

The revelations about her early concert experiences are also significant because they shed light on how Miley views music as a lifelong companion rather than just a career. For her, the formative experience of seeing live shows as a child—whether it was hair metal or boy band pop—was less about the genre and more about the thrill of performance. That thrill is something she has carried into her own concerts, where she continues to craft experiences that are bold, theatrical, and unforgettable. From her infamous 2013 MTV VMAs performance to her polished 2024 Eternal Summer tour, Miley has consistently embodied the same spirit of excitement she once felt as a kid watching Warrant.

Ultimately, what makes these stories resonate is not just their humor but their relatability. Everyone remembers their first concert, whether it was a mainstream act, a local band, or in Miley’s case, a glam-metal spectacle with unexpected obstacles. These moments stay with us, shaping the way we view music and performance for the rest of our lives. For Miley Cyrus, the girl who would grow up to become one of pop culture’s most versatile and talked-about stars, it’s fitting that her journey began in a setting as wild and unpredictable as a Warrant concert. It reflects the same spirit of rebellion, risk, and individuality that has come to define her career.

Miley Cyrus’s revelation about her first concert being a Warrant show is both surprising and telling, offering fans a glimpse into the eclectic influences that shaped her artistry. Combined with the playful stories of O-Town and the candid banter with her mother, it paints a portrait of a star who has always embraced contradictions and surprises. From hair metal to boy bands, from Hannah Montana to boundary-pushing pop stardom, Miley’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing all sides of music and life. And if her first concert says “a lot,” as she herself put it, then it perfectly explains why she has never stopped surprising the world.