25 best award show hosts
By Reed Gaudens
21. Miley Cyrus
Show: 32nd Annual MTV Video Music Awards (2015)
Memorable Moments: What did Miley Cyrus do from the years 2013-2015 that wasn’t memorable? That’s the real question. Following the wild success of her 2013 album Bangerz, Cyrus naturally attempted to one-up her much-talked about appearance at the VMAs two years prior (foam fingers, teddy bear leotard, twerking on Robin Thicke, etc.) by hosting in 2015. From her bizarre outfits, pseudo-feud with Nicki Minaj (“Miley, what’s good?”), and the surprise album she dropped that night, Miley threw one festive and musical acid trip.
Public Reception: By and large, the public grew desensitized to Miley Cyrus’ antics by the time 2015 rolled around. She’d left little to the imagination in the “Wrecking Ball” and “Adore You” videos and her Bangerz tour put her then-IDGAF aesthetic on full, colorful display. We were used to her shock and awe, even when she smoked pot onstage. While the occasion made for many a meme, Cyrus was neither overwhelmingly panned nor praised.
Why They’re One of the Best: Still, at the end of the day, there’s very few celebrities with personalities as vibrant and insanely watchable as Miley Cyrus. No matter what vibe she’s feeling or era she’s in the midst of promoting, she’s one of the last true showman left in Hollywood. She can do it all: sing, act, tell a joke, be the joke, and easily interact with stars as big as she is. If 2013 cemented Cyrus’ icon status in pop culture, her 2015 hosting gig at the VMAs demonstrated that whether she’s twerking, smoking, or tapping into her country roots, she’s one star that’s indestructible.