Miley Cyrus used her moment in the spotlight at the Palm Springs Film Awards on Saturday to challenge the competitive nature of Hollywood’s awards circuit, calling for a shift toward artistic unity, per hollywoodreporter.com.
The pop icon was honoured for her original song, “Dream As One,” featured in James Cameron’s latest epic, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Unlike traditional ceremonies, the Palm Springs gala announces its winners in advance, a format Cyrus found refreshing.
“So often during awards season, we’re set up as competitors, but we’re meant to be a community, not opponents,” Cyrus told the audience at the Palm Springs Convention Center. “There is no single ‘best’; there is only our personal best work.”
The singer-songwriter argued that while “numbers can make it feel like a sport,” the true value of a performance cannot be measured on a scoreboard. She noted that every artist “bares their soul in a unique way,” leaving a permanent mark on cultural history.
Cyrus also injected her signature wit into the evening, praising the event’s orchestra. “You guys did amazing, if you’re available for the Oscars, that’s what we’re hoping for,” she quipped.
In a lighter moment, she compared the “persona” of award-winning actors to that of drag queens, noting that both are rooted in the art of “genuine performance.” She joked that while the gala was elegant, it lacked her preferred quota of drag performers, promising a pit-stop at local favourite Toucans on her way back to Los Angeles.
Closing her speech, Cyrus expressed gratitude to long-time friend James Cameron. Admitting she felt she was “backpacking” off the crew’s 16-year commitment to the Avatar franchise, she thanked the industry for recognising her contribution to the film’s legacy.
