Miley Cyrus & Dolly Parton – “Wrecking Ball” & “I Will Always Love You” (Miley’s New Year’s Eve)

When Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton walked on stage together during NBC’s Miley’s New Year’s Eve special, it was more than a performance — it was a meeting of eras, a blending of voices that symbolized both continuity and renewal in music. Their medley of Miley’s “Wrecking Ball” and Dolly’s “I Will Always Love You” became one of the evening’s most unforgettable highlights, striking chords of vulnerability, resilience, and enduring love.

The moment began with Miley’s “Wrecking Ball.” Her voice, raw and powerful, carried the pain and intensity of heartbreak with every note. Stripped of studio polish, her live delivery revealed the emotional cracks that make the song so relatable. As she sang the familiar lines — “I came in like a wrecking ball…” — there was no artifice, only a young woman pouring out the ache of loss in front of millions.

Then, seamlessly, Dolly Parton joined her. With that instantly recognizable timbre, warm yet commanding, she elevated the song from a solitary cry to a shared anthem. The sight of godmother and goddaughter singing side by side made the lyrics feel new again, as if Dolly’s presence added both reassurance and perspective. Their harmonies revealed not just two singers, but two generations holding the same truth: love is powerful, even when it breaks us.

But the medley didn’t stop there. As the final chords of “Wrecking Ball” faded, Dolly led the transition into her own timeless ballad, “I Will Always Love You.” It was a breathtaking shift — from the anguish of shattered love to the grace of letting go. Dolly’s delivery, soft yet resolute, carried the wisdom of decades. She didn’t belt; she whispered the truth of the song, letting its simplicity shine.

Miley joined her, their voices intertwining on the chorus. For the audience, it felt like a musical embrace: the pain of “Wrecking Ball” soothed by the acceptance of “I Will Always Love You.” Together, the songs told a complete story — from heartbreak to healing, from despair to gratitude.

The mood of the performance was electric yet deeply emotional. The crowd roared with excitement at every turn, but in between, you could sense the reverent hush of listeners caught in the spell of two women laying bare the most human truths about love.

What made this duet unforgettable was not just the technical beauty of the voices, but the relationship behind them. Dolly has been a guiding figure in Miley’s life, both personally and musically. To see them share this stage, weaving their stories together, was to witness more than entertainment — it was to see family, mentorship, and love expressed through song.

In the end, Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton’s medley of “Wrecking Ball” and “I Will Always Love You” was more than a show-stopping performance. It was a generational bridge, a living testimony to the way music heals, teaches, and connects. For one night, two voices from different eras reminded the world that heartbreak may shatter us, but love — in memory, in song, in family — will always remain.