Miley Cyrus Is ‘Thrilled’ to Be Engaged to Maxx Morando: ‘Exactly the Life She’s Wanted’ (Exclusive Source)

Miley Cyrus is living out her dreams.

After news broke on Dec. 2 that the Avatar: Fire and Ash songwriter, 33, and musician Maxx Morando, were engaged, an exclusive source tells PEOPLE that Cyrus is excited about taking the next steps.  

“Miley is thrilled to be engaged,” the source tells PEOPLE, adding that Morando, 27, who plays drums for the band Liily, proposed a few weeks ago. “The ring is so her. It has a cool, boho-rock vibe to it. It’s beautiful. She didn’t feel the need to announce her engagement. Maxx is very private, and it’s influencing how she lives her life now.”  

Cyrus and Morando have been living together for years. “She really thrives with him. They hang out a lot at home and love creating music together. It’s exactly the life she’s wanted.” 

The couple’s engagement news comes after the pair stepped out to the Los Angeles premiere of the latest Avatar: Fire and Ash on Monday, Dec. 1. As they posed for photos together on the red carpet, Cyrus could be seen wearing a glittery ring on that finger.

The Hannah Montana alum was first spotted wearing the ring around mid-November, according to Deux Moi. The ring also made an appearance in photos Cyrus shared on Instagram on Nov. 23 from her 33rd birthday dinner with friends, which showed her blowing out a candle on her cake.

“She loves her life with Maxx,” adds the source. “It’s very normal and calm. She’s very protective of her relationship. She’s in such a great place. Her family and friends love Maxx.”

Cyrus and Morando were first linked in December 2021. They were photographed cozying up backstage during Cyrus’ NBC holiday special, Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, in Miami. The two seemingly went public with their romance months later, in April 2022, when they were spotted kissing out in West Hollywood.

Cyrus later revealed in a July 2023 cover story for British Vogue that she and Morando met on a blind date. “Well, it was blind for me and not really for him,” she clarified to the outlet. “I thought, ‘The worst that can happen is I leave.’ ”

The “Flowers” spoke to PEOPLE about her engagement while promoting the forthcoming film Avatar: Fire and Ash, whose soundtrack features her song “Dream as One” on Dec. 2. 

“The detail that I can share is that for us, our privacy and us kind of keeping it small has been something that I’ve been astounded that I’ve actually been able to have and being able to kind of have more choice,” she says.

“I think it’s also being older, being more protective of what I’m open to sharing,” she adds.