Miley Cyrus helped fans say farewell to 2020 in a COVID-19 safe way. The singer performed from a Hollywood studio on ABC’s 49th annual Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve, hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The 28-year-old kicked off the telecast with a performance of her 2009 smash “Party in the U.S.A.” to get everyone amped for a night of killer music. Miley donned a patriotic outfit featuring skin-tight leather pants with red and white stripes on one leg, and blue and white stars on the other. She matched it with a red, white and blue leather motorcycle jacket as she belted out the tune.
It's officially a party in the USA! Starting the night strong with the one and only @MileyCyrus. #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/NBcOKUWF2t
— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) January 1, 2021
Miley performing ‘Party in the USA’ on Dick Clark’s #RockinEve! pic.twitter.com/vZXgi8ZFsi
— Miley Cyrus Access (@MileyNewsAccess) January 1, 2021
While Miley used a festive party song to kick of the New Year’s Eve telecast, she appeared later on in the show. She did a mash up of her hit single “Midnight Sky” and Stevie Nicks‘ 1981 classic “Edge of Seventeen.” For that performance, Miley showed off her killer legs in a glittering black mini-dress with high heels. It featured a plunging neckline and feathers around the sleeves and the hem of her short skirt.
MILEY CYRUS Performing Midnight Sky / Edge Of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks at Rock In Eve #2021 pic.twitter.com/LrECWWWU9J
— Miley Updates (@MileyUpdates) January 1, 2021
Miley had teased her performance the day prior on Dec. 30, wearing a total rocker chick look. She donned a black leather bra-top with a lace-up front and matching pants with open sides that laced up from her ankles all the way to her belt. Even in her dress rehearsal for the big show, Miley was embracing her rock ‘n roll aesthetic.
Miley fully embraced being a rock star for her new album Plastic Hearts, which became her first entry into Billboard‘s Rock Albums chart territory. After killing it in the world of pop music and even forays into country, Plastic Hearts debuted at number one on the rock album chart on Dec. 12, 2020. Not a bad way to end the year for Miley, who is quickly becoming the queen of reinventing herself. We can’t wait to see what she has in store for 2021.
Miley didn’t take part in the New York City festivities for the special, which were highly limited due to crowd restrictions in Times Square and strict COVID-19 protocols for all of the performances. Jennifer Lopez headlined the night from Times Square. Also out of New York, Machine Gun Kelly and Jimmie Allen held their performances, while Billy Porter not only co-hosted hosted with Ryan, but reunited with pal Cyndi Lauper for a duet. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Year’s Eve ball celebration in Times Square went virtual for the first time in its 114-year history.
With several time zones to cover as 2021 rolled in and an 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT start time for Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve, producers promised a whopping five and a half hours of performances. In addition to Miley, JLo and MGK there were plenty of other artists lending their talents to the special, including Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Maluma, Nelly, Lewis Capaldi, En Vogue, Ella Mai, and Brandy. Ciara got to ring in New Year’s on the West Coast, hosting the show for the fourth year out of Los Angeles and helping celebrate as the clock struck midnight in the Pacific Time Zone.