Miley Cyrus talks up her tour

Miley Cyrus doesn’t need to look at the music charts to know that her songs are making a connection with the fans. Of course, having a best-selling record is good reassurance too — and Cyrus getting plenty of it these days. The EP is near the top of the charts and her song “The Climb” has been No. 1 on Billboard’s adult contemporary chart for weeks.

It’s just another example of the maturing career of the 16-year-old Cyrus. While she’s still known to millions as the star of the Disney phenomenon “Hannah Montana,” she’s not just a teen queen anymore. VH1 crowned her as one of their “Divas,” she’s in an upcoming movie playing a defiant teen and she’s calling the shots on her “Wonder World” tour.

Cyrus recently talked about her new show, growing up and being in the public eye.

AP: Describe the new album “The Time of Our Lives.”

Cyrus: It is a transitioning album. ... Everything is like a stepping stone. And that was really to introduce people to what I want my next record to sound like. So it is really about us working our way up to being able to do the music you really love.

AP: A lot of your music you write yourself. Do you ever write a song and go, “That is too personal, I don’t want to put that out?”

Cyrus: Yes, sometimes I write songs just to write them. I will even play them for my friends, and they will say, “Will that be on your next record?” and I’ll say, “No, that was just for me. That was just for my peace of mind.”

AP: You are going to be in the film “The Last Song,” out next spring. Is it a departure from your “Hannah” character?

Cyrus: I really do get to do a little bit of everything. It is not like getting away from it at all, it is just showing more of a side that I want to show. I love doing “Hannah Montana,” but I want to continue doing things that are a little bit more darker roles. That is kind of who I am and where I find most of my inspiration.

AP: Now that you are getting older, there is more talk of you possibly retiring the “Hannah Montana” character.

Cyrus: I thought about retiring when I was like 15. Just kidding.

AP: When that day does come, obviously it will be very sad, but will it also be a little bit of a relief?

Cyrus: I want to continue to do everything I can. When I stop having fun, I’ll just quit everything altogether. But, I’m having fun. ... I think I will forever do that, if I have the people that I’m around still around me.

AP: You have mentioned that you have made a few mistakes. What would you say was your biggest and what was the most exaggerated one?

Cyrus: I think everything I do is exaggerated a lot. People forget you still have to respect people and their privacy. And respect my family and trust the fact that my parents are raising me just like everyone else.