Miley Cyrus Opens Up About Post-Pandemic Anxiety During Summerfest Set

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After spending a year and a half stuck at home due to the pandemic, new anxiety about making our way into crowds has begun to settle in. While those in festival audiences may feel unsure as they look at those standing around them, questions of doubt about whether or not they'll wind up getting sick from being around so many people for the first time in more than a year, those on stage have their worries, too. Including Miley Cyrus.

While Cyrus has long been associated with confidence, the singer revealed during her Friday (September 17) set at Summerfest that isn't always the case. In a moment captured by journalist Piet Levy, Cyrus stood on the stage to reveal that she nearly had a panic attack in the middle of her set.

Between tracks when the lights were turned down, Cyrus said she walked backstage to talk to her bandmates and let them know that she was feeling the onset of anxiety. However, she decided to push forward and address the crowd and let them know how she was feeling, as she figured many of them likely felt the same.

"And the experience was because, like everyone else for the past year and a half, I've been locked away isolated, and it is very stunning to be back in a place that used to feel like second nature," Cyrus said. "Being on stage felt like being at home. And it doesn't anymore because of how much time I spent at home, locked away, and this is very confusing. So for myself and, just like each one of you, being a part of a pandemic was troubling and terrifying, and coming out of is also slightly terrifying. So I just wanted to be honest with how I'm feeling because I think by being honest about that, it makes me less afraid."

The "Midnight Sky" singer has a slew of festival performances planned throughout the coming months in support of her 2020 record, Plastic Hearts. While easing back out on stage and into crowds will take some getting used to, time will allow everyone to return to the joy and freedom once previously found while enjoying live music.


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