Miley Cyrus, the chameleon of pop, has a career discography that ricochets wildly between pop, country, hip hop, and rock. With an uncanny ability to adapt and mold herself into various genres, she’s shaken off the Disney shackles and embraced a full-throttle, trail-blazing musical journey. In the mix, she’s teamed up with some heavyweights from diverse corners of the musical universe, and these alliances have given her sound a rich, eclectic quality.
Take her track with Dolly Parton, the queen of country herself, on “Rainbowland,” or her foray into the world of rap with Ludacris on “Hands in The Air”. She’s dabbled with drag icon RuPaul on the audacious “Cattitude” and even brought synth pop siren Dua Lipa into her universe on both the original and remixed versions of “Prisoner”. There’s a raw rock ‘n roll edge courtesy of a Billy Idol collaboration, and a poetic intimacy ingrained in her team-up with Brandi Carlile. Miley’s artistry morphs and weaves through different soundscapes, but her authenticity remains steadfast.
Miley has collaborated with the following artists:
- Dolly Parton
- Ludacris
- RuPaul
- Big Sean
- Future
- Anitta
- Nelly
- Ghostface Killah
- Britney Spears
- Dua Lipa
- Joan Jett
- French Montana
- Billy Idol
- Sia
- Brandi Carlile
- Stevie Nicks
These artists mold and accentuate Miley’s sound, making her one of the most daring and varied artists in contemporary pop music.
So let’s get into it. From rebellious rock anthems to bombastic pop bangers, here are the best of Miley’s collabs of all time.
15. Hands in the Air (feat. Ludacris)
A Bangerz staple that truly solidified Miley Cyrus’ jump into the hip-hop realm. The track, while an energetic bop, doesn’t truly showcase Miley’s full vocal and emotional range. Ludacris’ guest spot adds that extra punch, but the overall song lacks the raw grit and emotional depth found in some of her top tracks.
14. Cattitude (feat. RuPaul)
This track, off Miley’s 2019 EP ‘She Is Coming’, is arguably one of her boldest experiments with genre-blending yet. To some, this tongue-in-cheek rap-pop hybrid teetered on the brink of being just a touch too campy. Yet, you can’t deny Miley’s knack for sheer audacity and her ability to get us talking.
13. Love Money Party (feat. Big Sean)
This song, hailing from Cyrus’ polarizing 2013 album “Bangerz”, is a hip-hop influenced record that boldly tries to break free from Cyrus’ Disney persona, albeit with mixed results. Cyrus’ vocal performance is ambitious, but she struggles to maintain command alongside Big Sean’s assertive delivery.
12. My Darlin’ (feat. Future)
A collaborative effort with Future, this track from her boundary-pushing “Bangerz” album is undoubtedly eclipsed by its more infamous peers. Let’s not mince words here. The problem with “My Darlin'” is not Future’s impassioned bars, but Miley’s ill-advised attempt to channel her inner diva.
11. Mother’s Daughter X Boys Don’t Cry (feat. Anitta)
A testament to Cyrus’s genre-bending abilities, the track merges pop with a splash of punk-rock desperation, which is classic Miley. Still, while her attempt to legitimize pop music within a traditionally edgy framework is admirable, the track fails to land a solid punch – perhaps due to the difficult task of synthesizing two wildly different soundscapes.
10. 4×4 (feat. Nelly)
This song pairs Cyrus’ trademark twang with a thunderous beat, which gives that old-school honkytonk vibe a kick up the behind. Now, Nelly’s guest verse might seem like an odd fit, but the contrast actually adds a pinch of hip hop seasonings to this country stew. Still, as much as its genre-blending takes guts, “4×4” never quite hits fifth gear, and feels like it’s running in circles sometimes. You can see where it wants to go, but it’s not quite sure how to get there, showing Miley’s bold experimentation doesn’t always land flawlessly.
9. D.R.E.A.M. (feat. Ghostface Killah)
Comfortably nestled in the back half of the list, proving that even when Cyrus veers into hip hop territory, she doesn’t lose that unique star quality. Ghostface Killah’s verses add a raw edge to the otherwise bubblegum pop track. Daring, yes, but it doesn’t quite hit the sweet spot of Miley’s powerhouse ballads or contagious pop anthems.
8. SMS (Bangerz) (feat. Britney Spears)
It’s the epitome of an iconic pop-culture moment where Miley teams up with none other than pop princess, Britney Spears. These divas owned late 2000s pop culture, and their collaboration is a fitting tribute to their reign. The track’s unapologetic electro-pop beat is a wink to Britney’s legacy even as it also carves out a new path for Miley.
7. Bad Karma (feat. Joan Jett)
With the iconic Joan Jett lending her rock ‘n’ roll vocals, this track is a high-octane ride, deliberately unpolished, sticking its middle finger up at the pop music status quo. It’s the perfect antidote to the squeaky-clean Hannah Montana image Miley’s been dismantling brick by brick.
6. FU (feat. French Montana)
Now, “FU” is an absolute firecracker of a song that emulates the brassiness of big band with the edgy modernity of pop music, and dare I say it, Miley Cyrus sings with the fervency of a scorned diva that’s both relatable and cathartic. The feature from French Montana, though brief, adds just enough rap flair without overcrowding Miley’s vocal space.
5. Night Crawling (feat. Billy Idol)
This collab with punk rock legend Billy Idol has a dark, tantalizing vibe that’s hard to resist. Cyrus’ throaty growls weaving with Idol’s iconic snarl? It’s a match made in musical heaven, but it’s relatively low on our list. It leans more into Idol’s punkish appeal than Cyrus’ pop prowess.
4. Muddy Feet (feat. Sia)
Here we experience Miley and Sia, both powerhouse vocalists, joining forces to create this raw, blues-inspired anthem. A fascinating display of Cyrus’ ability to straddle genres, the track builds on pop’s high gloss, but also revels in rock’s grittier side. If anyone had doubts about Cyrus’ versatility, this team-up quashes them with aplomb.
3. Thousand Miles (feat. Brandi Carlile)
Joining forces with the Grammy-winner, Miley gave us a melancholic, acoustic journey that strayed away from her usual pop anthems. This song is a bittersweet symphony, where Cyrus’s rasp and Carlile’s harmonies mesh to create an authentic, raw musical experience.
2. Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix) (feat. Stevie Nicks)
This banger is a cosmic blend of two generations of pop artists, bringing together Miley’s “Midnight Sky” with Stevie Nicks’ timeless “Edge of Seventeen”. It’s synergy in sonic form, people. Miley’s raspy vocals blend seamlessly with Nicks’ ethereal harmonies, resulting in a rock-pop crossover that tickles every corner of the pop music spectrum.
1. Prisoner (feat. Dua Lipa)
A glorious mash-up that feels like the lovechild of Blondie and Fleetwood Mac, this track pulses with unstoppable energy and undeniable chemistry. Their voices blend with palpable heat over a playfully irreverent beat; Cyrus amping up her Southern rock leanings and Dua Lipa riding the pop perfection wave. The collaboration feels written in the stars, an analogue blaze in a digital era; two zeitgeist women reinterpreting the raw power of the 80s rock-pop scene for today’s world. And let’s give it up for that music video – an intoxicating road trip through liberation, rebellion, and cherry-filled debauchery. Honey, this isn’t just a song; it’s a manifesto!
