Miley Cyrus Joins Metallica for an Intense and Moving Performance of “Nothing Else Matters”

There are rare artistic collisions that seem unlikely on the surface yet create something unforgettable once they occur. That is exactly what happened when Miley Cyrus embraced the world of heavy metal and delivered her own emotionally charged vision of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” Once known simply as Billy Ray Cyrus’s daughter and later as the global face of Disney’s Hannah Montana, Miley has been breaking out of labels for years. She pushed past every attempt to box her in, diving boldly into new musical territories with each era. Her journey from country beginnings to pop superstardom and ultimately rock exploration has proven that her artistic fearlessness is one of her defining traits. Through each transformation, she has fought to show her true self, and it is that spirit that makes her connection with this Metallica classic feel completely genuine.

As Miley continued to evolve, her willingness to abandon comfort zones stood in sharp contrast to Metallica’s deep-rooted identity as pillars of heavy music. Since the early 1980s, Metallica has been synonymous with blistering riffs, explosive energy, and an uncompromising metal attitude. Yet the band has always possessed a softer emotional core beneath the aggression, which was powerfully revealed in “Nothing Else Matters.” Meanwhile, Miley’s genre-hopping career showcased a similar emotional openness, even though she built her career in a very different world. By the time 2022 rolled around, Metallica’s music had once again surged into pop culture due to “Master of Puppets” becoming a defining moment in Stranger Things, reaffirming how their songs continue to resonate across decades and generations.

On paper, Miley Cyrus and Metallica might appear to represent opposite ends of the musical spectrum. But once Miley explained her attachment to “Nothing Else Matters,” the connection revealed itself immediately. She first performed the song at Glastonbury in 2019, during one of the most emotionally turbulent periods of her life. Her marriage was collapsing, and her California home had been consumed by wildfires, leaving her grasping for stability wherever she could find it. In that chaos, she found empowerment in music, grounding herself in a piece that gave her strength when everything else around her was falling apart. It wasn’t a cover driven by novelty—it was a performance born from necessity.

Her bond with the song extended far deeper than admiration. Miley openly shared that its message helped her confront the fragments of her life that were slipping away. Music became the one anchor she could trust, and she described how the lyrics helped her rediscover what truly mattered. “This song was what drove me to that place, because I knew nothing else mattered,” she reflected. “Everything I thought was permanent was changing, but my devotion to music stayed the same.” That vulnerability shaped her interpretation from the inside out, transforming her presence onstage into a cathartic declaration of strength.

Miley returned to the song a couple of years later for The Blacklist, the massive 2021 tribute album celebrating the 30th anniversary of Metallica’s storied Black Album. Dozens of artists reimagined its tracks, but Miley’s take emerged as one of the project’s undeniable standouts. Fans were struck by how confidently she navigated the song’s emotional landscape, stepping fearlessly into territory long guarded by metal purists. Her delivery demonstrated a command of the song that came only from lived experience. Rather than attempting to imitate James Hetfield, she embraced her own tone and emotion, transforming the song into a reflection of her journey.

Her performance for The Blacklist took on an even richer dimension thanks to the presence of Sir Elton John, who played piano alongside her. His graceful, sweeping keys supported Miley’s raspy, passionate voice with elegance and majesty. Elton has long possessed an uncanny ability to add depth to any genre he touches, and in this collaboration, his presence helped unlock the song’s most delicate truths. The balance between his classic style and Miley’s raw vulnerability gave the piece a new emotional weight, one that resonated deeply with both pop loyalists and longtime Metallica fans.

Another incredible milestone came in 2021 when Miley joined Metallica themselves for a performance of “Nothing Else Matters” on The Howard Stern Show. Despite the broadcast being split between cities due to pandemic restrictions—Stern in New York and Miley with Metallica in Los Angeles—the emotional connection translated perfectly through the screen. The stripped-down setup allowed each artist’s voice and musicianship to stand out. Viewers could feel the chemistry between Miley and James Hetfield, the way each singer seemed to feed off the other’s intensity while keeping the focus fully on the song’s message. It was a collaboration that felt effortless yet monumental.

For Metallica fans accustomed to Hetfield delivering the emotionally charged verses himself, watching him step just slightly back to let Miley lead added a new layer of meaning. Hetfield has explained many times that “Nothing Else Matters” is one of the most personal songs he ever wrote. At the time, he worried about showing vulnerability because it clashed with the band’s hardened image. “We built this reputation of being these tough guys, made of stone. But this was one of the most fragile songs,” he admitted. Sharing that spotlight with Miley underscored just how far both artists had come in embracing emotional honesty onstage.

That collaboration served as a reminder of why the song has remained a universal classic for decades. It refuses to sit neatly in one genre box. It doesn’t matter whether a listener comes from metal, pop, country, or anything in between—its message echoes for anyone who has experienced love, heartbreak, or the need to cling to something meaningful. Miley’s interpretation honored the song’s heart instead of reinventing it for shock value, proving that genuine emotion can bridge any divide. The performance reinforced the idea that “Nothing Else Matters” belongs to everyone who has ever needed it.

Ultimately, the collaboration between Miley Cyrus and Metallica delivered more than a performance. It became a testament to the power of music to break through barriers—genre boundaries, image expectations, and even personal struggle. Fans who walked in loyal to one side found themselves embracing both worlds by the end. The moment showcased a level of emotional fearlessness that resonated far beyond one song or one concert. It offered proof that when passion leads, music gains the ability to unite, comfort, and transform. In the face of everything life can take from us, the love we hold for music can remain firm—and sometimes, nothing else matters.