Miley Cyrus’ journey from Disney darling to fearless rock powerhouse has been one of pop culture’s most dramatic transformations—and one festive performance from 2020 perfectly captures just how far she’s come.
The moment in question is her explosive cover of Wham!’s 1984 holiday classic “Last Christmas.” The performance has racked up more than two million views, leaving fans mesmerized by Miley’s ability to reinvent a song everyone thought they knew by heart.
Filmed for Amazon Music, the set feels like chaos wrapped in Christmas cheer. Miley struts into an over-the-top holiday living room bursting with decorations—ornaments everywhere, clothes tossed about like a rebellious teen’s bedroom, a glowing Christmas tree at center stage, and artificial snow drifting softly through the air. It’s festive, messy, and unapologetically her.
Dressed in a skimpy black crop top and studded mini skirt, layered beneath an oversized black leopard-print coat and topped with a matching Santa hat, Miley channels pure 80s rock energy. But this isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake—she drags the song straight into the modern era. Her gravelly vocals, raw power, and wide-ranging control transform the sugary pop original into something fierce, edgy, and unmistakably Miley.
Backed by roaring electric guitars, her band reimagines “Last Christmas” as a full-blown rock anthem—less bittersweet heartbreak, more defiant survival. It feels closer to something you’d hear blasting from a heavy metal Christmas record than a soft seasonal playlist staple. The sadness of the original is stripped away and replaced with bold confidence, urgency, and attitude.
Fans have flooded the comments in awe. One viewer summed it up perfectly: “Miley can sing every genre. Her voice covers every tonality.” Another added, “She’s proven just how much talent she has—and how much respect she shows to the legends.”
This performance isn’t an outlier—it’s part of a much bigger evolution. Over the past few years, Miley has been shedding the last traces of her Disney-era image, emerging as one of today’s most compelling interpreters of classic rock. While hits like “Flowers” dominate radio with polished pop appeal, her live performances tell a different story—one of risk-taking and genre-blending.
Her rock résumé now includes jaw-dropping covers of The Cranberries’ “Zombie,” Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb,” Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” a duet with Billy Idol on “Rebel Yell,” and even a shockingly powerful take on Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog.” Each performance further cements her reputation as a vocalist unafraid to step into legendary territory—and own it.
With her ferocious rendition of “Last Christmas,” Miley Cyrus doesn’t just revive a holiday favorite—she reclaims it. It’s a bold reminder that her evolution isn’t a phase, but a reinvention. From Disney royalty to rock authority, Miley continues to prove she belongs on any stage, in any genre, at any time of year.
