Miley Cyrus Says She Now Has ‘Everything’ She ‘Ever Wanted’ as She Returns to Stage at Hollywood Bowl with Surprise Guests
Miley Cyrus Says She Now Has ‘Everything’ She ‘Ever Wanted’ as She Returns to Stage at Hollywood Bowl with Surprise Guests
Lily BrownSat, October 17, 2026 at 4:58 PM UTC
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Miley Cyrus performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2026.Credit: PapCulture / BACKGRID -
Miley Cyrus performed her first major concert since 2022 at the iconic Los Angeles venue
Nearly 1.5 million fans joined the presale queue for her two-night Hollywood Bowl run
MODEL/ACTRIZ will join Cyrus for her second show on Oct. 18
Miley Cyrus is back, and she’s giving fans the best of both worlds: a return to the stage and a first taste of her new musical era.
The 33-year-old singer hit the stage at Los Angeles’ iconic Hollywood Bowl venue on Friday, Oct. 16 for the first of two special shows, marking her first major performance in nearly four years.
During the show, Cyrus debuted new hits from her 10th studio album Bass Persuades, but also revived classics like “The Climb,” “We Can’t Stop” and “Party in the U.S.A.” as she opened up about finding “balance” in her personal life after being uncertain as to whether she wanted to continue performing live.
“For me, performance can’t be everything, because the curtain closes and the lights go down and I have to go back home and be happy with who I am,” she told the crowd while introducing “Something Beautiful.” “And I really appreciate you all honoring that and respecting and celebrating and supporting and encouraging me finding this balance in my life where I can really have everything that I ever wanted.”
She said she’d asked herself some “tough questions” before coming out on stage, and noted that a few years ago, she wasn’t sure that live performances were something she “wanted to dedicate and devote herself” to. She went on to say she’s learning to strike a balance; earlier in the day, she adopted a new fish named Balthazar, and was happy to say she was “equally [as] excited” about the fish as she was the show.
Miley Cyrus performing at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Oct. 16, 2026.Credit: PapCulture / BACKGRID
Cyrus brought some friends with her for the big moment, too. Flaming Lips rocker Wayne Coyne joined the star on a B-stage in the crowd for “Do You Realize??” and “Karen Don’t Be Sad,” and the two shared a long, sweet hug while singing.
Later, during her encore, Cyrus’s fiancé Maxx Morando came out to drum for her during “Let’s Get Married” and “Flowers,” and the two showed off some PDA with a kiss on stage.
In a pre-taped video opening to the show, Cyrus revealed that it was seeing the French band Air at the Hollywood Bowl with Morando in September 2025 that ultimately inspired her to make Bass Persuades and eventually end up performing it at the storied venue.
“Maxx and I hold hands, leaning in to each other, whispering so close you’d think we’re speaking of forever. Observations, opinions, as if we’re in our own bubble. It’s how it feels when we’re together. I think I’d live in that bubble,” she said. “The show’s sexy, without begging to be. And somewhere in the middle of it, I feel something. Like a phantom phone ringing inside me loud enough I had to answer it.... A voice greets me that sounds more like a mirror. ‘Make a record.’”
Elsewhere during the show, Cyrus grew emotional at times, and admitted she was “overwhelmed” by the love and attention she received from fans, especially as she walked through the crowd to get back to the main stage.
“Getting to see each of you and touch you all, it is overwhelming for me,” she said. “And I’m okay, I don’t want my mom to worry, ‘cause she knows this is the spiel I give when something is wrong, but actually nothing is wrong... But it is a lot for me and it is a little bit overwhelming, so I just wanted to say thank you. I appreciate you, I see you, and you being there for me and you supporting me and letting me feel this and ride all these waves, it’s a beautiful thing that we share together.”
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She also spoke through tears while remembering her late godmother Dolly Parton, and performed “Jolene” in her honor.
The concert comes as Cyrus enters a new chapter of her career with her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, which was released on Sept. 18. And if the response to her Hollywood Bowl return is any indication, fans are more than ready to see what she has up her sleeve. Nearly 1.5 million fans entered the presale ticket queue on Sept. 9 for the shows, setting a record for demand ahead of her two-night run.
For Cyrus, the Hollywood Bowl is more than just another stage. It’s a place she’s long loved as a music fan — and one she’s finally getting to call her own.
“It’s been a while. The Hollywood Bowl is my favorite place to experience music and see my favorite artists,” she wrote on Instagram when announcing the shows. “I’ve sat in those seats many times, but I’ve never taken the stage. LA is my heart and I’m bringing it home. See you there. ❤️ Miley.”
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The concert also comes as Cyrus celebrates the release of Bass Persuades, which she described as a reflection of her journey over the past two decades.
“This album happened fast but that’s been my life for 20 years. Once I started wishing to land a role that would make LA my home it’s been nonstop,” the singer wrote on Instagram. “This album is a reflection of everywhere I’ve been along the way and the peace that came with starting to slow it all down. Thank you for celebrating this release with me. It’s a special record and it’s bliss to share with you. Love always. ❤️”
The album’s title track is already off to a strong start, topping iTunes in the U.S. and debuting at No. 1 on Spotify’s U.S. Top Songs chart for Sept. 4-6. It also landed at No. 2 on Spotify’s global chart during the same period and was the most-added song at U.S. radio that week.
Her album announcement also signaled a shift in how the former Disney star is presenting herself to the world: She’s releasing the project under just her first name, Miley.
Cyrus will return to the Hollywood Bowl for her second performance on Saturday, Oct. 18, with MODEL/ACTRIZ joining her as the special guest for both dates.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
