Miley Cyrus Claps Back at Critics After Hollywood Bowl Shows: 'I Am Fully Present'

Miley Cyrus returned to the stage for her first full concerts in four years at the Hollywood Bowl, and she used night two to respond to online critics who said she wasn’t fully present on opening night. Addressing the crowd on Oct. 18, Cyrus said she can take a lot, but she will not stand for questions about where her heart is when she’s performing. She also opened up about the challenge of coming back, admitting the show doesn’t come as naturally as it once did.

The two-night run was the only live event scheduled to promote her new album, Bass Persuades, and it was packed with moments. She opened Sunday’s show with“Orbit,”while Friday’s set included a heartfelt tribute to her late godmother Dolly Parton and a cameo from Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. Cyrus also shared that she nearly convinced herself not to go on stage Sunday, but refused to leave fans unfulfilled.

Her honesty about stage anxiety and the pressure of a comeback makes this more than just a pop star story. It’s a reminder that even the biggest names deal with nerves and outside noise. So what do you think: should artists respond to internet critics or let the music speak for itself? Let us know in the comments.