I Miss You (Miley Cyrus song)

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics; some commented on how it deviated from her usual material at the time and how effective the message was.

The singer had a very close relationship with her paternal grandfather, Ron Cyrus, a Democratic legislator in the state of Kentucky and public servant,[1] whom she referred to as "Pappy".

[2] He was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, and struggled with the illness for several years as result of exposure to asbestos.

[1] Cyrus then relocated from Franklin, Tennessee to Los Angeles, California to commence work on the Disney Channel original series Hannah Montana.

[6] The singer believed that, despite having personal significance to her, "I Miss You" could have a variety of meanings for distinct people in divergent situations, including moving away from home, the loss of a parent, or a breakup in a romantic relationship.

Heather Phares of Allmusic complimented "I Miss You", and categorized it as one of the tracks on Meet Miley Cyrus that bared much resemblance to Hannah Montana songs.

He added, "The songs are more guitar-driven, the outfits more adult, and the lyrics imply a string of bad boyfriends -- but it feels like imaginary drama taken from high school poetry, as if she's pretending to be older than she is.

"[11] In a similar note, Elysa Gardner of USA Today stated the song was the exception to the "heavy on flash and fantasy" that characterized Cyrus at the time.

[19] She sat on a stool that placed towards the end of the runaway, performing with an acoustic guitar, as images and home footage of Ron Cyrus appeared on the screens.

"[19] Alison Bonaguro Dressed of the Chicago Tribune stated that, despite its simplicity, the performance on December 8, 2007, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois felt like as though it was the largest production of all.

[21] In a gray shirt and black pants, Cyrus performed the song, along with "Ready, Set, Don't Go" and "The Best of Both Worlds", on The Oprah Winfrey Show on December 20, 2007, as a screen displayed a light-blue background.