Miley Cyrus gets real with Barbara Walters about Liam

There are several reasons why Barbara Walters would consider Miley Cyrus to be one of the most fascinating people of 2013, but it seems that list also includes her relationship with "The Hunger Games'" Liam Hemsworth.

Cyrus and Hemsworth were set to be married just a year ago when, after persistent rumors suggesting their relationship was over, the two stars confirmed in September that the engagement was off.

The news was just one more headline for Cyrus to add to her pile, as she was also in the midst of intense album promotion. So when Walters sat down with the 21-year-old singer/actress as part of her annual "Most Fascinating People" special, the two got real about how much the split really impacted Cyrus' year.

Although Cyrus wrote the single "Drive," on her album "Bangerz," about a tumultuous point in her romance with Hemsworth, she told Walters that listeners shouldn't take the lyrics to heart.

"I don't think there was any lies," Cyrus said of their relationship. "I was so scared of ever being alone. And I think conquering that fear this year was actually bigger than any other transition that I had this entire year. I don't ever want to have to need someone again, where you feel like without them you can't be yourself."

But, Walters countered, that's "being in love" and perhaps wanting to get married. Does she no longer desire those things?

"I think I'll want that in the time that it needs to be," Cyrus responded. "I don't think I realized what 19 truly is. I got engaged at 19. I definitely wouldn't change being engaged, it was so fun wearing a fat rock for a few years. But now, I just feel like I can actually be happy. I wait for those moments of silence when I'm just at my house, by myself."

Walters' full interview with Cyrus, as well as her other "Most Fascinating" picks for 2013, will air on December 18 at 9 p.m. on ABC.