Miley Cyrus heard the criticism over her performance choices during her historic two-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl last weekend, with the pop star taking a few minutes during the second night to respond to what she called “clickbait” comments about her efforts at her first major performance in years.
“I’ve never heard that I don’t put my whole heart into something,” Cyrus told the crowd at the start of the show Sunday, calling some of the comments that surfaced after the night “clickbait.” She added that the Bowl shows were not “a Youit’s an experience for Me.”
Cyrus admitted to the crowd that playing shows wasn’t “as natural as it used to be” and that she had even considered not coming on Sunday, but that “I would never leave you all sitting in these seats unsatisfied with a show.”
“I can put up with a lot, but one thing I won’t put up with is the question of where my heart is when I’m on stage,” Cyrus said. “Not one. I’m fully present…the only thing I have is this moment with all of you.”
Before performing again, she told the crowd that the reason she wasn’t doing “cartwheels” during the show was because she had to sing live.
Cyrus’ concerts represent a rarity for the singer, who hasn’t done a proper concert tour in more than a decade. Some of the criticism online was that she let the crowd and backing track handle the singing of some of her older hits like “Wrecking Ball” and “Party in the USA.” Although she didn’t sing every word on Sunday night, she seemed to sing more on these tracks for the second night.
Cyrus’ first comments were the most notable and overt of the show, but it wasn’t the only time she addressed part of the first night’s speech. From a side stage among the Bowl crowd, she further elaborated on comments she herself had made about how “overwhelming” it was to be surrounded by all of her fans.
“I’m excited to see you, to feel you, to touch you, but just know that it’s deeper than a concert — someone here is singing and you’re all getting the songs,” Cyrus said. “It’s more than that to me. And that’s what I meant by ‘it’s overwhelming. It means so much to me, that’s what I meant.’
Overall, the second night’s set was almost identical to the first, with Cyrus once again leaving room in the set for a tribute to her late godmother Dolly Parton before performing Parton’s iconic hit “Jolene.”
Before the performance of “Jolene,” Cyrus told a funny and touching story about playing a video of “Jolene” to a Parton model that Parton had given to Cyrus as a Christmas present, dropping off a flower and asking Parton’s spirit to turn on the lights if she was there.
“I didn’t say anything out loud but the whole hallway started flashing,” Cyrus said. “Max can attest to that, he was there but he didn’t know what I said. So I know she’s here with me tonight, and I’m feeling some of the feelings that scare me the most, but having her here with me gets me through it. And having you here with me gets me through it. So whatever it takes, this show is for you and for Dolly.”
Gn entert
