Miley Cyrus mashes it up with Madonna, twerks with her tongue out and drops a bunch of F-bombs on her upcoming MTV special, and she's in fine voice while doing it.
While her whittled stomach and occasional crotch-grabs compete for attention, Cyrus really can sing, and it shows on her episode of "MTV Unplugged," airing Wednesday.
Cyrus taped the acoustic concert Tuesday on a Hollywood soundstage, performing stripped-down versions of selected songs from her latest album, "Bangerz," and closing with a booty-slapping duet with Madonna.
"So, it sounds super lame, but as a pop star it's pretty cool performing with Madonna," the 21-year-old said after singing a mash-up of Madonna's 2000 track "Don't Tell Me" and Cyrus' hit "We Can't Stop." Cyrus spanks the 55-year-old Queen of Pop during the duet, which made Madonna's Britney Spears kiss feel like it was way more than 10 years ago.
This is Cyrus' show, and it's a hoedown. Backed by a seven-piece band on a stage decorated with hay bales, Cyrus gives her acoustic songs a country touch, adding a twang to "4x4" and "Bangerz."
"I'm from Nashville," she said. "And since I couldn't make all of you guys go back home with me, I tried to bring Nashville here for the night."
Cyrus also includes elements from her more recent shows: a little person, a giant woman and two men in a horse costume. She works in a fair amount of curse words, tongue extensions and sultry moves as she performs songs including "Wrecking Ball," ''Adore You" and "Drive."
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"I feel like I'm at karaoke, but it's only my turn," she said, "which is what I really like."