Miley Cyrus opens Hollywood Bowl concert, honors Dolly Parton with "Jolene

Miley Cyrus took the stage at the Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday night, opening her first full concert in nearly four years with a soulful rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and a surprise appearance by Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, who joined her for an extended jam on “Do You Realize?”

Cyrus has spent the past three years away from large‑scale touring, focusing on a new album, acting projects and her role as a mother. The last time she played a full arena show was in 2020, when the pandemic forced the music industry to shut down. Her return comes as she promotes “Endless Summer Vacation,” an album that blends pop, rock and country influences and has already topped charts in the US and UK. The tribute to “Aunt Dolly” also nods to Cyrus’s long‑standing admiration for Parton, who mentored her early in her career and remains a frequent collaborator.

The Hollywood Bowl setlist wove together hits from her early pop days, recent singles and deep‑cut covers. After “Jolene,” Cyrus launched into “Midnight Sky,” followed by a medley that included “Wrecking Ball” and “The Climb.” When Coyne appeared, the crowd erupted, and the duo improvised a psychedelic finale that lasted nearly ten minutes. Fans and critics praised the performance as a bold, genre‑defying statement. Social media lit up with over 2 million views of the “Jolene” clip within hours, and Rolling Stone called the show “a triumphant re‑entry for a restless artist.”

Cyrus hinted that the Hollywood Bowl gig is the first stop of a broader North American tour slated for early 2025, with dates already being added in New York, Chicago and Toronto. Industry analysts say the successful comeback could revitalize her live‑music revenue and cement her evolution from teen pop star to versatile performer. For fans, the concert signaled that Cyrus is ready to write the next chapter of her career, blending nostalgia with fresh artistic risks.