Miley Cyrus Talks Connection Between Songwriting and Touring

Miley Cyrus is further expanding upon why she doesn’t want to go on tour. In the latest installment of her Used to Be Young series on TikTok named after her new single, Cyrus breaks down her relationship with touring. She notes that being a cheerleader when she was a child and having to travel constantly for games and competitions helped prepare her for life on the road.

Having headlined tours since she was 15, the now 30-year-old is stressing the importance of finding a work-life balance. “That’s what people don’t really understand about touring is the show is only 90 minutes, but that’s your life,” she explained in the video. “If you’re performing at a certain level of intensity and excellence, there should be an equal amount of recovery and rest. There’s a level of ego that has to play a part that I feel gets over-used when I’m on tour and once that switches on, it’s hard to turn it off.”

She goes on to say that there’s a direct relationship between touring and being a songwriter, as the constant grind of tour life can negatively impact her creativity. “Having every day the relationship between you and other humans being subject and observer isn’t healthy for me because it erases my humanity and my connection,” she continued. “Without my humanity and my connection, I can’t be a songwriter, which is my priority.”

[RELATED: Miley Cyrus Looks Back on Relationship with Dad Billy Ray Cyrus]

Cyrus revealed to British Vogue in June 2023 that she wouldn’t be touring in support of her latest album, Endless Summer Vacation. “[It’s] not natural,” she told the publication. “It’s so isolating because if you’re in front of 100,000 people then you are alone. There’s no connection. There’s no safety.”

Her comments drew backlash from fans, with Cyrus offering a clarifying statement on social media. “I feel connected to my fans NOW more than ever,” she said. “Even if I don’t see them face to face every night at a concert, my fans are felt deeply in my heart. I’m constantly creating and innovating new ways that I can stay connected to the audience I love – without sacrificing my own essentials.”

Photo Credit: Michael Esposito / Courtesy of Sony Music