Miley Cyrus paid tribute to the late Sinead O'Connor on the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special, performing O'Connor’s rendition of Prince’s "Nothing Compares 2 U." The emotional performance marked a moment of reconciliation, as Cyrus had a public feud with O'Connor more than a decade ago.
Joined by Grammy-winning guitarist Brittany Howard, Cyrus delivered a rendition that signaled the end of any lingering tension between her and O'Connor. Their feud began in 2013 when Cyrus referenced O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" music video as inspiration for her own "Wrecking Ball" video. O'Connor responded with an open letter, criticizing Cyrus for allowing herself to be exploited by the music industry. The heated exchange was further fueled when Cyrus mocked O'Connor’s struggles with mental health in a tweet.
However, following O'Connor's death in July 2023, Cyrus reflected on their past conflict, admitting she had not fully understood O'Connor’s fragile mental state at the time. In her concert special Endless Summer Vacation: Continued (Backyard Sessions), Cyrus acknowledged the depth of O'Connor’s pain and expressed genuine remorse. “God bless Sinead O'Connor, for real, in all seriousness,” Cyrus said, later paying homage to the singer with her heartfelt performance.
O'Connor's own relationship with SNL was marked by controversy when, in 1992, she tore a picture of Pope John Paul II on-air during a protest against child abuse in the Catholic Church. The act led to a lifetime ban from the show, and O'Connor faced a wave of public criticism in the years that followed. However, she later wrote in her memoir that the incident helped her reconnect with her true self.
Prince, whose song "Nothing Compares 2 U" O'Connor famously covered, also had a complex history with SNL. His performances on the show, especially at anniversary specials, are part of his legendary legacy in music history.
With this emotional tribute, Cyrus helped lay to rest any past animosity, honoring O'Connor's legacy while reflecting on their own personal growth and reconciliation.
Source: Entertainment Weekly