With 'Something Beautiful,' Miley Cyrus balances dance fervor and overly stylized pop
Life is not all glamour among the world's pop divas. After Céline Dion's health struggles with stiff-person syndrome and Selena Gomez opening up about her bipolar disorder, Miley Cyrus revealed on May 21 in an Apple Music podcast that she suffers from Reinke's edema. This rare condition has made the Tennessee-born singer's voice increasingly deep and raspy. Cyrus acknowledged the illness could affect her next tour, which has yet to be announced. Yet, the former Disney star (from the series Hannah Montana), now 32 years old, did not seem hindered during her televised performance in February for the anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live. With a powerful voice, she notably performed a duet with Brittany Howard (formerly of Alabama Shakes) of "Nothing Compares 2U", written by Prince.
In the past, the "Flowers" singer – whose 2023 hit became a worldwide phenomenon – explored a range of genres: R'n'B-influenced pop on Bangerz (2013); country pop with Younger Now (2017); and FM rock on Plastic Hearts (2020). For Something Beautiful, the aesthetic leans into 1990s glamour and fashion. The album cover features the pop icon transformed into a cabaret revue leader, dressed in an outfit designed by Thierry Mugler in 1997.
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