WATCH: Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton Team Up For Epic New Year’s Eve Duets: ‘Wrecking Ball,’ ‘Jolene,’ ‘I Love Rock ‘n Roll’ & More

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton helped millions ring in the New Year when they served as co-hosts of Miley’s New…

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

January 1, 2023

10:59 am

Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus; Photo by: Vijat Mohindra/NBC

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton helped millions ring in the New Year when they served as co-hosts of Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party on NBC. The pair kicked off the show with a bang when they covered the Joan Jett And The Blackhearts classic, “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” and continued to thrill fans with a number of duets throughout the show.

Live from Miami, Florida, the pair rang in the new year together on the two-hour special, which welcomed several surprise guests, including Paris Hilton and David Byrne, in addition to the already star-studded lineup.

MIley Cyrus, Dolly Parton; Photo by Vijat Mohindra, NBC

Cyrus and Parton had jaws dropping with five duets and several Saturday Night Live-style skits during the special.

Joan Jett And The Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ‘n Roll”

Cyrus and Parton shocked viewers when they strutted onto the stage, wearing all black and leopard ensembles, to kick off the show as they belted out the lyrics to the iconic Joan Jett hit.

The 30-year-old “Plastic Hearts” singer and Parton, 76, traded verses of the track before flawlessly pairing their vocals together on the chorus.

“I love rock n’ roll / So put another dime in the jukebox, baby / I love rock n’ roll / So come and take your time and dance with me / Ow,” Cyrus and Parton sang on the chorus.

The performance comes just weeks after Parton was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, so what a better way to celebrate her induction and their mutual love for rock ‘n roll.

Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”

Cyrus was later joined by her “fairy Godmother” to perform “Wrecking Ball.” The pair prompted a massive sing-along with their performance of Cyrus’ 2013 hit just minutes before midnight, when the co-hosts rang in the New Year together.

Parton, wearing a white gown with vertical sheer cutouts and pearls, took to center stage with Cyrus, who sported a floor-length black gown, for a show-stopping performance.

The international superstars flawlessly combined the two songs together blending lyrics from Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” to perfectly transition into Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”

Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Jolene”

Cyrus and Parton tipped their hats to their Tennessee roots with a cover of “Walkin’ After Midnight.”

“Honoring Patsy Cline and Nashville,” Parton exclaimed from the stage prior to their performance.

Backed by a live band, including a horn section, the artists harmonized throughout the tune, which became Cline’s first major hit in 1957.

Following a roaring applause, Cyrus and Parton sent fans into a frenzy with an energy-filled performance of one of Parton’s signature hits, “Jolene.”

They stunned in coordinating pink and black ensembles throughout both performances.

Skits

Cyrus and Parton also offered several skits throughout the special, including a countdown to midnight, Cyrus giving Parton a makeup makeover, and more. The iconic hitmakers also delivered a hilarious skit alongside Saturday Night Live actresses Chloe Fineman and Sarah Sherman as well as shared their New Year’s resolutions and their plans for 2023.

Co-hosted by Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton, Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party aired on live on NBC from Miami, Florida on Saturday (Dec. 31) from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ET and will also stream live on Peacock.

This year’s edition of Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party marked the second consecutive year of the New Year’s Eve special.

Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party also featured an A-list lineup of musical performances and special guests, including Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Latto, Liily, FLETCHER, Rae Sremmurd, and SIA.

In addition to an epic lineup of performances, Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) Chloe Fineman and Sarah Sherman as well as comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy also made appearances.

“The lineup is very me. It is curated in a way that makes no sense, but makes total sense,” Cyrus previously explained of the lineup during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Last year, Cyrus co-hosted her New Year’s Eve Party alongside Pete Davidson. The 2021/2022 installment of the show, which drew in over 6.3 million viewers and was the No. 1 trending New Year’s Eve special on Twitter, featured performances from Jack Harlow, Billie Joe Armstrong, Brandi Carlile, Saweetie, Noah Cyrus, Anitta, 24kGoldn, Kitty Ca$h, and more.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.