Miley Cyrus’ Powerful Fleetwood Mac Collaboration On Secrets

Miley Cyrus released the deluxe edition of Something Beautiful, and her new Fleetwood Mac collaboration is the track we need most from her. In 2020, Cyrus collaborated with Stevie Nicks on a mashup of her song “Midnight Sky” and Nicks’ 1981 hit “Edge of Seventeen.” However, this time, Cyrus tapped Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham for a song.

Cyrus won her first two Grammy awards in 2024 for “Flowers,” an upbeat pop song with some Gloria Gaynor-inspired disco elements. While Something Beautiful has its fair share of pop tracks, “Secrets” leans more toward Fleetwood Mac’s traditional sound. It might not reach “Flowers” levels of virality, but it’s one hell of a song.

Miley Cyrus Should Have Been Making This Kind Of Music All Along

Miley Cyrus has been releasing music since she was 14 years old, starring as Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Channel series of the same name. However, the Disney Channel ex-act soon paved her way as an artist independent from the TV show where she made a name for herself.

Despite growing up under a country singer father, with Dolly Parton as her honorary godmother, Cyrus went the pop route, only occasionally releasing rock music. Though it was evident early on that Miley Cyrus’ voice fit best with the stylings of artists like Parton, Fleetwood Mac, and Bob Dylan.

In 2012, Cyrus dropped her first backyard sessions on YouTube, covering songs by Parton, Nina Simone, and Melanie. Cyrus also appeared on the 2010 album Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, covering “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go.”

These covers allowed Cyrus’ powerhouse vocals to shine, whereas pop music often stifles her vocals. The same can be said about her new collaboration with Fleetwood Mac. “Secrets” is another example of why Cyrus’ vocals were made for the bluegrass, soft rock sound of the ’60s and ’70s.

The soft rock production matches Cyrus’ emotion to a tee. It’s a call back to her roots and a reminder that she’s not just another pop star. She was raised on and around some of the greatest artists of all time, and this comes through better in her Fleetwood Mac collaboration than on any other Something Beautiful tracks.

The singer has spent a lot of time lately criticizing the current state of the music industry. She especially dislikes the quick, TikTok-appropriate pop songs some artists are dropping just for relevancy. “Secrets” is the perfect way to combat the current industry and gives Cyrus the material she needs to back up her critiques.

There’s An Added Layer To The Importance Of Her Fleetwood Mac Collab

On the surface, “Secrets” is a beautiful love song that sounds like it could have been inspired by Cyrus’ current partner, Maxx Morando. However, the pop star’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, confirmed on Instagram on August 25th that “Secrets” was his daughter’s birthday gift to him.

According to the post, the Fleetwood Mac members are his favorite musicians, which is why Cyrus chose them for the song. The Hannah Montana star has had a rocky relationship with her father in recent years, which resulted in the two not speaking for a while.

“Secrets” is seemingly a reconciliation song, showcasing how Cyrus has grown to understand her father by getting to know all the secrets about him and his upbringing. During an appearance on Reclaiming With Monica Lewinsky, Cyrus explained that “Secrets” was meant to make her father feel safe sharing things with her, understanding that she’s now old enough to hear them.

Not only is Miley Cyrus at her best when she’s pairing her raspy texture with the musicians of Fleetwood Mac, as Stevie Nicks once did, but she’s also at her strongest when she’s being vulnerable. Both these qualities resulted in an unforgettable Something Beautiful bonus track.

Sources: Billy Ray Cyrus/Instagram, Reclaiming With Monica Lewinsky