Miley Cyrus is finally a Grammy winner, and she says she knew it was coming—even before her name was called.
During her June 4 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 32-year-old pop icon opened up about her unforgettable night at the 2024 Grammy Awards, where she took home two of the most prestigious honors: Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year for her smash hit Flowers.
But according to Cyrus, there was a moment before the announcement that made everything click.
The Mariah Carey Moment
“Once I saw Mariah Carey, I knew I was going to win,” Miley told Fallon. “I had this whole idea in my mind of the butterfly and that metamorphosis. And she is the butterfly.”
The Butterfly album, a 1997 release by Carey, has been a major inspiration in Cyrus’ artistic journey. “Her album Butterflyhas been such a North Star for me,” she continued. “So when I saw her, I kind of knew I was going to win. Because that was just… It was an MC. MC to MC; I knew I had to get it.”
Cyrus said that meeting Carey was just as significant as winning the Grammy itself. “I was so excited to meet Mariah Carey,” she shared. “Even if I didn’t get the trophy—which was very cool—I was just thrilled to meet her. That moment meant everything.”
Grammy Night Almost Didn’t Happen
While her win may have felt destined, Cyrus revealed the night almost went sideways. She nearly missed the ceremony entirely due to unexpected weather and traffic.
“I didn’t even know if I was going to make it to the Grammys,” she admitted, referencing a rushed remark in her acceptance speech. “I actually got stuck in the rain. I got stuck in traffic. I almost didn’t even make it to receive.”
Despite the chaos, Miley made it just in time—and left as one of the night’s biggest winners.
A Win That Felt Personal
In a separate appearance on The Zane Lowe Show in May 2025, Cyrus reflected on how much the Grammy win meant to her emotionally.
“I think somewhere inside of me, I needed maybe to hold a trophy and just feel for a moment that I have something that I can hold in my hands that feels like a true achievement,” she said. “It was healing.”
A Milestone Years in the Making
After over a decade in the music industry, multiple reinventions, and a long journey of personal and artistic growth, Miley Cyrus’ Grammy win marks a defining milestone in her career.
And if her intuition—and Mariah Carey—had anything to do with it, she was always meant to shine.
