Miley made her major live return Friday night, Oct. 16, stepping onto the Hollywood Bowl stage for the first of two sold-out performances and fulfilling an ambition she had held for years.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play such an iconic venue,” she wrote on social media just hours before the show.
The concert marked Miley’s first full set in four years. Her previous one took place in Mexico before more than 150,000 fans, compared with the Bowl’s 17,500 capacity. In the years since, she has played intimate, invitation-only sets at Chateau Marmont but otherwise remained largely absent from the stage.
That time away left plenty of music to bring into the live show. Miley has released three albums since her last full performance, including her latest, Bass Persuades, which spent one week atop the Billboard 200. The Hollywood Bowl dates were promoted around that album.
A Live Introduction to Bass Persuades
Following a black-and-white spoken-word video, Miley opened with three selections from the new record: “Orbit,” “Different Religion” and the title track, which moved into its remix. She played electric guitar during “Different Religion” and brought collaborator and opening act Model/Actriz back to the stage.
She then reached back to Endless Summer Vacation for “Handstand,” telling the audience, “You didn’t expect this one, did you?” Miley also shared that it was the first song she wrote with her partner, Maxx Morando.
Another interlude found her discussing Woodstock and the idea that “you can be lost and exactly where you need to be.” Attention then shifted to a smaller stage in the center of the audience, where The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne began singing “Do You Realize??”
Miley joined him for the final chorus, greeted him with a long hug and called him “family.” She also hailed Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz as “my favorite album that I’ve ever made” before the pair performed that project’s “Karen Don’t Be Sad.” Coyne later returned during “Party In the U.S.A.” carrying a giant silver balloon sign with an expletive-filled celebration of the Hollywood Bowl.
Miley’s Emotional Tribute to Dolly Parton
Some of the evening’s most affecting moments centered on Dolly Parton. With an image of a young Parton displayed on the venue’s screens, Miley explained that one of her biggest reasons for wanting to perform at the Bowl was that it was the only place she had seen Parton live in concert.
She recalled that Parton had pointed her out in the audience during that concert and had entered her own show to the Hannah Montana song “Best of Both Worlds.” The memory moved Miley to tears.
“Me and Dolly are eternal,” she said, adding that she felt Parton’s presence more than ever and missed her. Miley performed “Jolene,” then displayed an image of Parton’s Hollywood star as she began “Walk of Fame.”
Later, after walking through the crowd on her way back to the main stage, Miley sang “Wrecking Ball” while holding a heart-shaped frame featuring Parton. “That was Dolly’s favorite song of mine, so I had to bring her with me,” she told the audience.
The close contact with fans also left the singer visibly affected. “I’m OK, I don’t want my mom to worry,” she said while looking toward the side of the stage. Miley added that feeling the audience’s passion and love was “a lot” for her and thanked the crowd.
Big Hits, Personal Reflections and a Two-Song Encore
Throughout the performance, Miley spoke about maintaining a balanced life rather than committing to nonstop touring. From the smaller stage, she even discussed a new fish named by Morando, explaining that she was as excited about it as she was about performing at the Bowl.
“That’s what I love about my life, is I get both,” she said. “I’m experiencing everything I’ve ever wanted.”
Reflecting on her career of nearly 20 years, Miley thanked fans for staying with her through what she called a “metamorphosis.” She offered the first verse of “We Can’t Stop,” let the track continue and briefly revisited twerking while joking, “Let’s see if I can still do it.”
The final stretch leaned into familiar favorites, moving through “Used To Be Young,” “The Climb” and “Party In the U.S.A.” Confetti and streamers filled the stage during the latter.
For the encore, Miley returned holding Morando’s hand for “Let’s Get Married.” A portable drum kit had been placed at center stage, where he played as she sang beside him. She closed with “Flowers,” introducing it as one of her personal favorites.
Miley also customized the song’s familiar live ad-lib to mark the occasion: “Started to cry but then remembered… I sold out the Hollywood Bowl!” The achievement applied to both scheduled concerts.
The complete setlist also included “Something Beautiful,” “Redlights” and “Snow,” alongside “Orbit,” “Different Religion,” “Bass Persuades” into its remix, “Handstand,” “Jolene,” “Walk of Fame,” “Do You Realize??,” “Karen Don’t Be Sad,” “We Can’t Stop,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Used To Be Young,” “The Climb,” “Party In the U.S.A.,” “Let’s Get Married” and “Flowers.”
ShowBiz Take
This return carried weight because it was built around Miley’s own terms. After four years without a full set, she came back with new material, defining catalog songs, deeply personal stories and carefully chosen collaborators. Two sold-out Bowl dates also underline the audience waiting for her, even as she continues prioritizing a life that does not revolve around constant touring.
The performance arrives after several major milestones. Miley won her first two Grammys in 2024, taking record of the year and best pop solo performance for the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Flowers.” In 2025, she joined Spotify’s Billions Club and performed a hits-focused set in Paris that included “Wrecking Ball” and “The Climb.” Earlier this year, she marked the 25th anniversary of Hannah Montana with a Disney+ special and a rare media blitz. She also dropped Cyrus from her stage name.
What Happens Next?
Miley’s second sold-out Hollywood Bowl show is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18, giving her one more night to revisit the production that delivered her long-awaited return to a full concert stage.