2016–2018: Music beginnings and Good Cry
On November 15, 2016, it was announced that Cyrus had signed a record deal with Barry Weiss' record label named Records, and later signed a management deal with Maverick under Adam Leber. She released her debut single "Make Me (Cry)" featuring English singer Labrinth that same day. In December 2016, she released an acoustic performance of "Almost Famous". She also provided vocals on the song "Chasing Colors" performed by Marshmello and Ookay, which was released in February 2017. On April 14, 2017, she released another single, called "Stay Together", followed by the single "I'm Stuck", released on May 25, 2017. On September 21, 2017, she released another single "Again" featuring XXXTentacion. From September 19, 2017, to November 1, 2017, she opened for Katy Perry on the Witness: The Tour. In November 2017, Cyrus made an appearance at Emo Nite in Los Angeles for a surprise DJ set which included some of her and her half-brother Trace Cyrus' music. "My Way", a collaboration with electronic group One Bit, was released on November 24, 2017. Cyrus was named one of Time's 30 Most Influential Teens in 2017.
Her first single of 2018, "We Are..." featuring Danish artist MØ, was released on February 7. Cyrus released "Team", a collaboration with MAX, on May 11, 2018. A follow-up collaboration "Lately", was released on June 15, 2018, with Tanner Alexander. On July 9, 2018, Cyrus announced her first headlining tour, The Good Cry Tour. "Live or Die", a collaboration with her now ex-boyfriend Lil Xan, was released on August 20, 2018. Norwegian DJ Matoma featured Cyrus on "Slow" in 2017, which was featured on his second album One in a Million, released on August 24, 2018. Cyrus released her new EP, Good Cry, on September 21, 2018, featuring new songs including "Mad at You" a collaboration with Gallant and "Punches" a collaboration with LP. DJ Alan Walker featured Cyrus' vocals on "All Falls Down" for his first album, Different World, which was released on December 14, 2018.