Top 10 Miley Cyrus Covers She Completely Reinvented

Top 10 Times Miley Cyrus Covered Songs In Her Own Style

Welcome to MsMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the most incredible and unique reimaginings of other artists songs that Miley Cyrus has performed over the years.

Roberta Flack

Written by British singer-songwriter Ewan MacColl in 1957, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face was recorded by several folk singers. However, it was jazz singer Roberta Flacks soft and whisper-like rendition that became the most popular, giving Flack the first chart-topping hit of her career. When Miley Cyrus covered the song at BBC Radios Live Lounge in 2017, she swapped that folk sound for a twangy, more haunting tone, while retaining the raw, emotional depth of the original. Set to a slightly slower tempo than Flacks version, Cyrus raspy vocals emphasize the vulnerability in the lyrics, and infuse the track with a more melancholic, almost aching quality.

Arctic Monkeys

As a singer with deep roots in country music, Miley Cyrus finds a way to inject some Southern twang into most of her covers. And her take on Arctic Monkeys Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? is no exception. Cyrus stripped down the bass-heavy groove of the original for a slower, more atmospheric arrangement during her 2014 appearance at MTV Unplugged. Adding a slightly jazzy edge, Cyrus uses her signature country drawl to highlight every lyric, and brings a new dimension to the words. She then closes the performance with a powerful final chorus, hitting soaring high notes that elevate the already great rendition. Its no wonder Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders called it his favorite cover of any of the bands songs.

Sinéad O'Connor

Its abundantly clear that Miley Cyrus provocative video for her song Wrecking Ball drew inspiration from that of Sinéad O'Connors Nothing Compares 2 U. While its release initially sparked a Twitter beef between the two artists, Cyrus later paid tribute to OConnor by covering the song in a mashup with Wrecking Ball for her live album Attention. The original features a sweeping orchestration, but Cyrus version is far grittier, with heavy rock instrumentation backing her husky vocals. Where OConnors rendition has a delicate sorrow, Cyrus is more impulsive and defiant, as if shes processing the heartbreak in real time and determined to move on. Cyrus delivered yet another powerful cover of the song at the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special alongside Brittany Howard.

Metallica

Miley Cyrus first unveiled her cover of Metallicas Nothing Else Matters at the 2019 Glastonbury Music Festival. At the time, she was navigating her divorce and coping with the loss of her home in a wildfire; circumstances that drew her to the song because it reminded her of her undying love for music. That emotional weight came through clearly in her performance. Cyrus brings a haunting vulnerability to the song that gave her rendition a unique edge and made it feel completely new. The cover was so well-received that she re-recorded it for the bands tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, with Elton John on piano, Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith on drums, Metallica's Robert Trujillo on bass and Yo-Yo Ma playing the cello.

Dolly Parton

As her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus shares a deep, undeniable bond with Dolly Parton, so who better to cover her timeless classic Jolene. In terms of arrangement, there isnt much difference between the two versions, but their paths completely diverge in the delivery. Partons country original is pleading and tender, capturing the quiet desperation of a woman begging another not to take her man. But in her 2012 backyard sessions, Cyrus put a more indie rock spin on it, delivering the lyrics with a bold, confrontational energy. Shes not just begging Jolene to back off, shes demanding it. Both versions came together beautifully in 2016 when Parton and Cyrus performed the song live on The Voice alongside a cappella group Pentatonix.

Janis Joplin

In 2021, Miley Cyrus headlined the Austin City Limits Music Festival for two consecutive weekends, treating fans to live performances of her songs as well as classic covers. One of the standouts of her entire set was her rendition of Janis Joplins Maybe. Joplins version was a cover itself and barely made a splash when it first dropped. Nevertheless, it was a raw portrayal of longing, amplified by that unforgettable gravel in her voice. With this cover, Cyrus exceeded all expectations by not only perfectly nailing Joplins cadence, but also hitting some impressive high notes. Her version was even more frenetic than the original, as she altered the tempo and pacing, creating a bold reinterpretation that can stand all on its own.

The Cranberries

Since it was released in 1994, the Cranberries protest anthem Zombie has been covered by numerous artists, but only a few have earned the bands approval. One of them is Miley Cyrus. Performed at the 2020 Save Our Stages festival at LAs Whisky a Go Go, Cyrus traded the grunge-tinged alt-rock feel of the original for a heavier, more distorted rock sound. She leaned further into the anger, bringing such an intensity that, according to the band, would have made the late frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan proud. Cyrus didnt just sound like a rockstar, she also looked like one, with her fur coat, mullet and relentless headbanging. Were glad she decided to immortalize the cover by including it on her 2020 album Plastic Hearts.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears 2007 hit Gimme More is a hypnotic dance-pop banger with a bassline you wish you could resist. In the hands of Miley Cyrus however, it became an unrecognizable song, in the best way possible. Though primarily a pop artist herself, Cyrus took the song in a different direction, transforming it into a brooding ballad. She swaps out the club-ready, electronic production and slows down the tempo, leaving behind what can only be described as a country hoedown. Stripped of its glossy synths, the raw ache in the lyrics seem to reveal itself, and its made all the more glaring by Cyrus gritty, impassioned vocals. Honestly, at this point, we need a full Miley & Britney cover album.

Madonna

Considering its widely regarded as one of her best songs, itll be hard to top Madonnas original version of Like a Prayer. But if anyone has come close, its Miley Cyrus. Cyrus performed a cover of the song at the 2022 Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest, which she then released as part of her live album Attention. While this version still retains the gospel roots of the original, Cyrus layers it with a more heavy rock sound, infusing thrashy drums, grunge-heavy guitars and that unmistakable raspy belt. Gone are the massive angelic choir and church bells; in their place is a raw, smoky rendition that feels less like a call to worship and more like a rock n roll confessional.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

A Gritty & Edgy Take On the Cures Iconic New Wave Ballad

Cyrus Turns the Lou Reed-Penned Tune Into a Blues Rock Affair

In One of Her Earliest Covers, Cyrus Proves Shes Outgrown Her Hannah Montana Days

Cyrus Cheery Vocals Add a Touch of Optimism to Balance This Ballads Deep Melancholy

Cyrus Powerful Voice Takes Center Stage in This Stripped-Down Rendition

Blondie

From the very first line of her cover of Blondies Heart of Glass, Miley Cyrus makes it clear that she is on a mission to forge a new rockstar image. And she certainly succeeds at it. Performed at the 2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival, Cyrus growls and belts the lines previously sung by Debbie Harry, with an unapologetic intensity. Its louder, bolder and dripping with a rockstar attitude. As the performance progresses, the glossy cool of the original gives way to a kind of beautiful chaos; distorted guitars, pounding drums and vocals that sound like theyve been through heartbreak and come out resilient. The cover was praised by critics, fans and even Blondie themselves, prompting Cyrus to include it on her album Plastic Hearts.

What songs will you like to see Miley Cyrus put her signature spin on? Sound off in the comments below.