OPINION: Miley Cyrus Singing “Jolene” Would Have Made CMA’s Dolly Tribute Even Better
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The CMA’s Dolly Parton tribute aired live Wednesday, October 21, and the night was definitely something the country legend would have been proud of.
It celebrated her life and career, and all the good she has brought into the world through her music and kindness.
But there was one thing missing that was hard to ignore. Miley Cyrus wasn’t in attendance, and not having her take the stage to perform “Jolene” felt like a missed opportunity that could have made the TV special even better.
Now, that’s not us saying that Ella Langley, who DID perform “Jolene” during the tribute, was the wrong choice. She did fantastic. But Miley would have been a great addition to the lineup.
OPINION: Why Miley Cyrus Should Have Sang “Jolene” At The Dolly Tribute Special
She’s covered the song several times over the years, and as Dolly’s goddaughter, seeing her perform it would have made the moment even more special.
Fans first heard Miley sing “Jolene” back in 2012, when she recorded a cover in her backyard for a YouTube series with her bandmates. The series featured them covering songs they loved, and her take on Dolly’s hit caught a lot of attention.
Calling the cover a hit would be an understatement. It’s gone mega viral over the years and now has more than 581 million views on YouTube. That’s absolutely wild.
Fans have even gotten to see Miley and Dolly perform “Jolene” together. If you have a good memory, you may remember the two teaming up to sing the song on The Voice, alongside a cappella group Pentatonix.
The most recent time we saw Miley sing “Jolene” was just a few days before her Aunt Dolly’s tribute concert. On October 16, the star had a two-night concert at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
During the show, she recalled seeing Dolly perform at the venue, which was the only time in her life she ever got to see her live in concert.
With tears streaming down her face, she sang “Jolene,” and honestly, it was probably the most emotional performance we’ve seen as a tribute to Dolly since her passing.
All that being said, the CMA tribute to Dolly was a wonderful television special filled with unforgettable moments from people who were close to her. If you didn’t tune in to watch it, we highly recommend you do. You can find out how to watch it here.
And although you won’t see Miley in it, at least we have multiple performances of her singing “Jolene” that we can go back and look at. She has such a beautiful way of singing the song, and we’re pretty sure this won’t be the last time we get to hear her perform it.
