“Miley Week” on The Tonight Show kicked off on a decidedly — and appropriately — more somber note
Following the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, which left 59 dead and more than 500 injured at Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on Sunday, “Miley Week” on The Tonight Show kicked off on a decidedly — and appropriately — more somber note than one might’ve initially anticipated from Miley Cyrus’ weeklong residency on the late-night talker.
Host Jimmy Fallon opened the show with brief remarks about the shooting before Cyrus, along with backing from fellow guest Adam Sandler, performed Dido’s 2013 single, “No Freedom.”
“This morning we woke up to the news of another senseless shooting — this time in Las Vegas,” Fallon said. “In the face of tragedies and acts of terror, we need to remember that good still exists in this world. We’re here to entertain you tonight and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Later, Cyrus explained the song choice, which was one she performed in her “Backyard Sessions” for the Happy Hippie Foundation. “There is no love without freedom, and I think about that when these tragic events happen,” the Younger Now performer said. “What is music if we can’t go see our favorite artists perform because we’re scared of violence or we’re scared of losing someone that we love…. We’re supposed to be the land of the free but we can’t have freedom if we’re constantly living in fear.”
“No Love without Freedom … No Freedom without LOVE,” Cyrus wrote on Instagram about the moving performance. “Thank you so much to Adam Sandler for joining me tonight in remembering all those lost, and singing lyrics that I believe are so important at this time …. #LandOfTheFree #StopTheViolence #GivePeaceAChance @fallontonight.”
Sandler appeared on the show to promote his new film, The Meyerowitz Stories.
Cyrus also closed the show with a performance of her 2009 hit, “The Climb.”
The singer explained on Instagram, “In honor of the lives lost, injured and affected by the tragic shooting in Vegas, @fallontonight & I dedicated this show to not only mourning this horrific event but using this platform to encourage unity, peace & hopefulness! So we started this week off with a song I haven’t performed in years … #TheClimb . These words mean more now to me than ever … ” Keep The Faith” ….. Sending love to ALL! Enjoy the show tonight & #MileyWeek …. hope we can make you smile even thru so much pain.”
