LOS ANGELES • When actor Liam Hemsworth broke up with singer Miley Cyrus several years ago, he bought a house in California - not knowing that she had used it to record her first album in 2007.

This funny anecdote was revealed by Cyrus, 24, in an interview with radio shock jock Howard Stern on his Wednesday show.

"When we broke up, he wanted to get away from me," she said, adding that the house-seller hid the plaques and mementos linked to the recording in the garage so that Hemsworth would find nothing objectionable about the property.

The ploy worked.

But there is a happy twist to the story. The house is now where the reunited couple call home, Billboard reported.

Cyrus admitted that she feels insecure when Hemsworth, 27, is paired up with attractive actresses in his movies. "I get that little butterfly in my stomach," she said.

When Stern asked if she does spot-checks at the location settings to ensure that there is no hanky-panky going on, she said she had other options to tap on.

"I keep my little spies. So I don't always have to be there."

She also paid tribute to rocker Tom Petty, who died from a cardiac arrest earlier this week.

"It's just really hard for me, watching those people whom I grew up with leaving," said Cyrus, who performed Petty's 1994 song Wildflowers on Wednesday.

"The reason why I chose this song is because it's hopeful rather than mourning."