Miley Cyrus and Metallica Unite for a Powerful Rendition of “Nothing Else Matters”
There are rare occasions when two seemingly different worlds collide and create something extraordinary. That was exactly the case when Miley Cyrus stepped into the realm of heavy metal and delivered a heartfelt rendition of Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters. Known first as the daughter of country icon Billy Ray Cyrus and later as the star of Disney’s Hannah Montana, Miley grew up in the public eye but carved out her own path in music, exploring everything from country to pop to rock with fearless determination.
Over the years, Miley’s musical evolution has been striking, constantly shifting genres and reinventing herself while remaining authentic to her emotions and experiences. In contrast, Metallica has always stood as a pillar of heavy metal, building their identity on aggressive riffs, raw power, and unrelenting energy. Yet, in 2022, their classic Master of Puppets found a new wave of popularity when it became an unforgettable moment in the Netflix hit Stranger Things, reminding the world why their music continues to transcend generations.
What might appear to be an unlikely combination—Miley Cyrus and Metallica—turns out to be deeply natural upon closer examination. Miley herself explained that Nothing Else Matters spoke directly to her soul, almost as if it had been written for her personal story. She chose to perform it at Glastonbury in 2019, at a time when her personal life was in turmoil: her marriage was ending, and she had lost her home in the California wildfires, leaving her clinging to music as her one true constant.
Her connection to the song was not just musical but deeply personal. She openly admitted that in those moments of chaos, she realized that despite heartbreak and destruction, her passion for music gave her strength. “This song was what drove me to that place, because I knew nothing else mattered. My love life was crumbling, but my love for music stayed unshaken,” Miley revealed, speaking to the song’s ability to heal even in the darkest times of her life.
Years later, Miley returned to Nothing Else Matters for Metallica’s tribute record The Blacklist, released in 2021 to honor their 1991 self-titled album, better known as The Black Album. This project invited artists across genres to reinterpret each song, and Miley’s version quickly became one of the highlights. Her bold choice to tackle such an iconic track proved her versatility and fearlessness as an artist, and her performance revealed just how deeply she connected with its lyrics.
Her Blacklist recording was elevated even further by the inclusion of Sir Elton John on piano. The collaboration between Elton and Miley added an entirely new dimension to the performance, blending her raspy, emotional delivery with his timeless elegance on the keys. Elton’s ability to adapt to any genre gave the song a new, haunting texture, while Miley’s vulnerability brought out the song’s core essence in a way that surprised even die-hard Metallica fans.
One of the most unforgettable moments came during her performance with Metallica on The Howard Stern Show in 2021. Despite the constraints of the pandemic keeping Stern in New York while Miley and the band were in Los Angeles, the energy translated seamlessly through the broadcast. The stripped-back setup allowed her voice to shine alongside the band’s legendary musicianship, and the chemistry between Miley and James Hetfield in particular showed a surprising yet perfect balance of vulnerability and strength.
For long-time Metallica fans, watching James Hetfield step into a supporting role while Miley carried the lead was a powerful sight. Hetfield admitted that when he first wrote Nothing Else Matters, it was one of the most vulnerable songs he had ever penned. “Late ’80s, we built this reputation of tough guys, we’re made of stone,” he reflected. “But this is one of the most fragile songs. The tougher the armor, the more you want to reveal your heart—but you’re afraid.” His words added even more weight to the shared performance.
That moment reminded audiences why Nothing Else Matters is such a timeless piece of music. The song breaks through the walls of genre, defying expectations and resonating with anyone who has ever felt love, loss, or the strength of holding onto something pure. Miley’s interpretation captured that essence with sincerity, proving that music’s power lies in its ability to unite worlds that might otherwise never cross. It’s not just a Metallica classic anymore—it has become a universal anthem for resilience and emotion.
In the end, the collaboration between Miley and Metallica offered something much more profound than a simple cover. It demonstrated the way music can transcend image, reputation, and background, allowing two completely different artists to create a moment that felt timeless. Fans from both sides of the spectrum, whether loyal to pop or metal, walked away knowing they had witnessed something historic: proof that when passion takes the lead, truly nothing else matters.
