Miley Cyrus has been in the spotlight since she was a child, but the pop star is ready to step away from the stage and live a more private life. In a candid interview with British Vogue, Cyrus revealed that she has no desire to tour again, saying that performing for huge crowds is not fulfilling for her.
Cyrus, who released her eighth studio album Endless Summer in March, said that she loves making music but not for the masses. “Singing for hundreds of thousands of people isn’t really the thing that I love,” she said. “There’s no connection. There’s no safety.”
The former Disney star explained that touring is unnatural and lonely for her. “It’s so isolating because if you’re in front of 100,000 people then you are alone,” she said. “Do I want to live my life for anyone else’s pleasure or fulfillment other than my own?”
Cyrus said that she prefers performing for her friends in an intimate setting, where she feels more comfortable and authentic. “I love playing music with my friends and being able to share it with them,” she said. “That’s what I love.”
The singer also admitted that she can’t handle the pressure and expectations that come with being a global superstar. “After the last [headline arena] show I did, I kind of looked at it as more of a question. And I can’t,” she said. “Not only ‘can’t,’ because can’t is your capability, but my desire.”
Cyrus’ last major tour was the Bangerz Tour in 2014, which consisted of 78 shows across the world and was met with controversy and criticism for its provocative and explicit content. Since then, Cyrus has scaled back on her musical tours, opting for smaller and shorter ones.
In 2015, she performed eight shows across the U.S. and Canada with the Milky Milky Milk Tour, which supported her experimental album Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. In 2019, she embarked on a seven-show tour called Festival Tour, where she covered cities in Europe. Last year, she held the Attention Tour, which consisted of five shows, one stop in L.A. and the rest in South American cities like Buenos Aires and São Paulo.
Cyrus’ decision to quit touring echoes other celebrities who have made similar choices in recent years. Adele announced in 2017 that she may never tour again after completing her 25 World Tour, saying that it was too emotionally and physically draining for her. Ed Sheeran also took a break from touring in 2019 after finishing his Divide Tour, which lasted for two years and broke several records.
While some fans may be disappointed by Cyrus’ announcement, others may respect her choice and wish her well. Cyrus has proven herself to be a versatile and talented artist who has reinvented herself many times over the years. Perhaps this is just another chapter in her evolution.