She might have had the world talking after her controversial appearance at MTV 's Video Music Awards last month , but to at least one person , Miley Cyrus is still just who she is . `` She 's just Miley , '' her father , Billy Ray Cyrus , told CNN 's `` Piers Morgan Live . '' `` She 's an artist . She 's real . I think that what 's happened over the years , Miley has been reinventing her sound . She 's evolving as an artist herself . I think that all of what everyone is calling controversy now , that 's still my Miley , '' he said . Billy Ray Cyrus spoke at length Thursday night about his daughter 's performance at the VMAs . You know the one . Wearing a flesh-toned bra and matching underwear , Miley Cyrus appeared on stage with gigantic , dancing bears and stunned the crowd by grinding against singer-songwriter Robin Thicke and yes -- twerking . The performance was a far cry from her Disney days as `` Hannah Montana . '' Billy Ray Cyrus said he had known his daughter planned to do `` something really special '' at the VMAs to get everyone talking . `` Miley 's smart enough to know that to come out of the shadows of 'Hannah Montana , ' it really takes something extremely drastic , which when you go to that level , it creates passion , and passion is either love or hate . But there 's no middle of the road for passion , '' he said , adding that the performance pushed his daughter to new heights . `` She has risen to a whole new level . I thought I had seen it all -- until these last couple of weeks , '' he told CNN 's Morgan . Cher slams Miley Cyrus , but feels 'ashamed ' for her comments . Miley and Liam : The engagement 's off . Miley 's 'Wrecking Ball ' wrecks Michigan college statue .
Robin Thicke sits down with Video Music Awards 's ` `` Hannah Montana He speaks at length about his daughter 's appearance at Video Music Awards 's CNN . `` There 's no middle of the road for passion , '' he says .