The Oscars were a family affair for Miley Cyrus on Sunday night, as she brought her mom along as her date.
"She's my mom and my date – and my dress fluffer!" Miley joked with Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell and Billy Bush on the red carpet.
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So where was dad Billy Ray?
"Dad stepped on my train too many times at the Golden Globes," Miley laughed. "He's not coming until he learns what a train is and how not to step on it!"
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But when it comes to her relationship with her father, it's something the tween star takes very serious and she has been forced to fend off attacks questioning the pair's relationship.
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"I feel like me and my dad have a better relationship than most kids in high school do with their parents and some say that's odd, but I don't find that odd," Miley added. "He's the reason I'm alive! And he's the one that lets me do this! It's not just my choice – it's my parents' choice too."
Miley's mom, Tish, also defended her daughter's relationship with Billy Ray and said it can be hard to ignore the attacks against her family.
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"It is hurtful," Tish told Nancy and Billy. "She has such a good relationship with us."
"I know at 16, I didn't want to hang out with my parents," her mom joked.
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