The Evolution of Miley Cyrus
July 8, 2008 — -- Although Miley Cyrus officially burst onto the nation's tween scene in 2006, Mileymania has captured the attention of the country's youngest consumers in only the past 12 months.
As a singer, songwriter and child actress Cyrus has cornered the child stardom market, with her fame increasing as she has distinguished herself from her star-making character, "Hannah Montana."
The title of her new album, "Breakout," seems eerily appropriate for an actress whose character once eclipsed her, but who now overshadows her alter ego.
Click here to watch Miley Cyrus rock "GMA's" Summer Concert stage in Bryant Park, New York City.
"It's a more grown-up Cyrus that emerges on her new album," according to a Billboard review.
Cyrus, whose new record arrives July 22, wrote all but two songs on the disc. Her record follows a brief -- she's only 15 -- but extremely successful career that resulted in Forbes magazine naming her the 17th top earner younger than 25 in 2007. She banked $3.5 million last year, according to the magazine, which expects Cyrus' income and stock to rise in the upcoming years.
If she continues at her current rate, the superstar sensation can expect huge achievements. She already has had two albums debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart ( the "Hannah Montana" soundtrack, plus a double disc featuring her own recordings).
Those numbers translated into huge ticket sales for her concert tour, which sold out when it kicked off in October. The tour drew nearly 1 million fans.
She is in the midst of filming "Hannah Montana's" third season, as well as a "Hannah" movie that is filming in Tennessee and will open next year.
The daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus also is preparing for another tour, with dates to be announced.
Her career has already eclipsed her father's, who became a household name with "Achy Breaky Heart" in 1992, the same year Cyrus was born.
