When Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Miley Cyrus, and Alicia Keys all shared the judges’ panel on The Voice, fans were treated to one of the show’s most unforgettable live moments. The four superstars stepped away from their chairs and onto the stage together for a powerful rendition of Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” creating a performance that felt both spontaneous and historic.
The song was performed in honor of former contestant Christina Grimmie, and every note carried deep emotion. Viewers around the world responded instantly, sending the clip past 44 million views. Miley Cyrus’ dramatic entrance, in particular, became a standout moment, with fans praising the raw energy she brought to the classic track.
Some of the most magical musical moments happen when artists from completely different worlds collide — and few examples capture that better than Miley Cyrus taking on Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” Raised in the spotlight as the daughter of country legend Billy Ray Cyrus and introduced to fame through Hannah Montana, Miley’s career has spanned pop, country, rock, and everything in between.
Metallica, meanwhile, built their legacy as one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time. Though long revered by metal fans, their music found a new generation of listeners after “Master of Puppets” featured prominently in Netflix’s Stranger Things. On paper, Miley Cyrus and Metallica don’t seem like a natural match — but the results tell a different story.
Miley has spoken openly about her deep personal connection to “Nothing Else Matters.” She revealed that the song felt as though it had been written specifically for her, which is why she included it in her Glastonbury 2019 set. At the time, her life was unraveling — her marriage was ending, and she had lost her home in the devastating California wildfires.
“This song carried me through,” she explained. “I reached a point where nothing else mattered. My life in love was breaking apart, but music was still there for me.”
Her connection to the song didn’t end there. In 2021, Miley recorded the track again for The Blacklist, a tribute album celebrating Metallica’s iconic 1991 release commonly known as The Black Album. Every song from the album was reimagined by a different artist, and Miley’s version stood out for its emotional depth.
Accompanied by Elton John on piano, her vocals sounded gritty, vulnerable, and unfiltered. Elton’s timeless musicianship added elegance and restraint, allowing the song’s emotion to breathe. Together, they transformed the metal ballad into something hauntingly intimate.
If you’ve never heard Miley Cyrus perform “Nothing Else Matters,” it’s an experience worth seeking out. The 2021 performance on The Howard Stern Show — filmed with Miley and Metallica in Los Angeles and Stern broadcasting from New York — proves that distance can’t diminish genuine artistry. Despite the physical separation, the performance feels seamless and deeply connected.
For Metallica frontman James Hetfield, stepping into a supporting role while Miley carried the lead may have been unusual, but he appeared completely at ease. Reflecting on the song’s origins, Hetfield once said, “In the late ’80s, we had this image of being tough and untouchable. This song showed our most vulnerable side. The stronger the armor, the bigger the heart you’re afraid to reveal.”