Sunday, September 20, 2026 - Miley Cyrus has opened up about experiencing an anxiety attack on stage during a 2022 performance in Mexico, revealing that the episode came after an intense period of emotional and physical strain.
Speaking in a new interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the 33-year-old singer said she was performing for a huge crowd for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic while also struggling with the sudden death of her close friend, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
Cyrus explained that the distress followed a terrifying incident aboard her plane while she was travelling to Paraguay for a music festival where Hawkins was also scheduled to perform. The aircraft was struck by lightning and forced to make an emergency landing, and Cyrus recalled calling Hawkins after the incident.
The following day, she learned that he had died. Months later, while performing in Mexico, the combination of grief, illness, the pressure of returning to enormous crowds and the lingering effects of the pandemic overwhelmed her.
Looking back, Cyrus said she now sees the episode as more than ordinary anxiety, describing it as a buildup of overwhelming experiences that left her nervous system shocked. She has since reflected on how harshly she judged herself as a performer and said recognizing that she was her own toughest critic helped her regain confidence.
The revelation comes as Cyrus begins a new chapter with her latest album, Bass Persuades, released on September 18, 2026, and prepares for upcoming Hollywood Bowl performances.
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