In a last minute twist, MTV announced on the morning of the VMAs that Miley Cyrus would be taking the stage to do her first-ever live performance of "Slide Away." Cyrus just finished that performance, and it was intense and heartfelt. "Slide Away" is believed to be inspired by Cyrus' real-life split from her husband Liam Hemsworth. Hemsworth filed for divorce just last week. Cyrus gave a soulful rendition, modifying the lyrics slightly at the end to say "you're right I'm grown now" and a final "it's time to let you go."
Cyrus almost didn't come to the VMAs. She didn't have any nominations, and she commented on two Instagrams last month hinting to fans she wouldn't be at the ceremony since she wasn't up for any award or asked to perform.
"Guess I'm not watching the VMAs this year unless Miley performs," fan account MileyCyrusEdition wrote. Cyrus wrote back in the comments, "No fuckin way."
A second account, javiercyruss, wrote, "They care more about a fucking green screen than a message to the world. nominate anyone but do not use the image of Miley to promote their damn prizes @vmas and #SheIsComing #peace." Cyrus commented, "Exactly."
Cyrus was last at the show in 2017. She performed that year, too.
Since Cyrus' rep announced her separation from her husband Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus has been in Los Angeles. Cyrus released a long statement on Twitter dispelling any rumors her cheating on Hemsworth caused him to file for divorce.
She wrote:
I can accept that the life I’ve chosen means I must live completely open and transparent with my fans who I love, and the public, 100% of the time. What I cannot accept is being told I’m lying to cover up a crime I haven’t committed. I have nothing to hide. It is no secret that I was into partying in my teens and early 20’s. I have not only smoked, but advocated for weed, I’ve experimented with drugs, my biggest song to date is about dancing on molly and snorting lines in the bathroom. I fucked up and cheated in relationships when I was young. I lost a massive Walmart deal at 17 for ripping a bong. I got kicked off hotel Transylvania for buying Liam a penis cake for his birthday and licking it.I swung on a wrecking ball naked. There are probably more nudes of me on the internet than maybe any woman in history. But the truth is, once Liam & I reconciled,I meant it, & I was committed. There are NO secrets to uncover here. I’ve learned from every experience in my life. I’m not perfect, I don’t want to be, it’s boring. I’ve grown up in front of you, but the bottom line is, I HAVE GROWN UP. I can admit to a lot of things but I refuse to admit that my marriage ended because of cheating. Liam and I have been together for a decade. I’ve said it before & it remains true, I love Liam and always will. BUT at this point I had to make a healthy decision for myself to leave a previous life behind. I am the healthiest and happiest I have been in a long time. You can say I am a twerking, pot smoking , foul mouthed hillbilly but I am not a liar. I am proud to say, I am simply in a different place from where i was when I was a younger.
Alyssa Bailey News and Strategy Editor Alyssa Bailey is the news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton).
