Miley Cyrus brought raw vulnerability to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday (May 22), performing her latest single “More to Lose” in a striking, emotionally-charged moment on the late-night stage.
Wearing a dark hooded coat and surrounded by a live band and string ensemble, the Grammy winner delivered a stirring rendition of the song beneath dramatic spotlights, echoing the somber, cinematic visuals from the track’s music video released earlier this month.
“On a song like ‘More to Lose,’ I try to keep it a singular take,” Cyrus previously explained in a video shared to Instagram. “I add my harmonies, ad-libs at the end, but it’s really a song that’s more of a story and I never want that to be interrupted or overthought or chasing perfection.”
“I never wanted More to Lose to feel perfect, I wanted it to sound meaningful and emotional,” she added.
The performance arrives just one week before the release of Something Beautiful, Cyrus’ highly anticipated ninth studio album, due May 30. The record is led by “More to Lose,” April’s “End of the World,” and recent tracks “Prelude” and the album’s title track. It also features collaborations with Naomi Campbell and Brittany Howard.
The pop star is set to debut a visual album companion to Something Beautiful at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6. Described as “a one-of-a-kind pop opera,” the film is directed by Cyrus with Jacob Bixenman and Brendan Walter.
In a recent interview with Apple Music 1’s Zane Lowe, Cyrus reflected on her journey to self-acceptance and sobriety — and how it shaped this new creative era. “The sobriety is like, that’s like my God. I need it, I live for it,” she said. “It’s changed my entire life.” Her 2023 smash “Flowers,” which earned her her first-ever Grammys, served as the breakthrough. “It was some sort of key right into the lock of all healing,” she added.
With Something Beautiful, Cyrus continues that journey — and if “More to Lose” is any indication, she’s not shying away from the parts that hurt.