Her single status was officially confirmed earlier this week following her split from fiancé Liam Hemsworth as controversy continues to rage around her raunchy twerking antics with Robin Thicke at the VMAs.
But it was another performance that had fans raising their eyebrows on Saturday when she appeared to choke up while singing the final lines of new single Wrecking Ball at the iHeart Radio Music Festival.
The 20-year-old singer was onstage at the Las Vegas event dressed in a typically revealing ensemble as she worked her way through a live set – although a rare moment of emotional honesty appeared to undermine her vocals during a performance of the track, her second release from forthcoming album Bangerz.
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Smashing it: Earlier on Saturday, the 20-year-old took to the iHeartRadio Music Festival stage for the first of two sets, clad in a revealing white corseted number
Indeed, as the song reached its climax Miley’s voice quivered over the telling lines: ‘Don’t you ever say I just walked away, I will always want you.’
The former Disney star is just two weeks away from releasing her new LP on October 4, but her professional life has been overshadowed by goings on behind closed.
Having confirmed the end of her four-year-relationship with Australian actor Hemsworth – who she met while filming 2010 movie The Last Song – Miley has since been romantically linked with producer Mike WILL Made It.
Choked up: Miley onstage as she works her way through the climax of Wrecking Ball, during which she appeared to break down
Belting it out: The 20-year-old singer performs Wrecking Ball at the iHeart Music Festival in Las Vegas on Saturday
Star magazine was the first to report the possible hook-up last week – before Miley’s broken engagement was publicly confirmed.
Now, multiple publications are circulating suggestive photos from a recent shoot with famed photographer Terry Richardson that certainly add weight to the rumour.
In the saucy shots, Miley is draped all over Mike, clad only in white knickers and a cropped white singlet top.
Twerk it: Miley adopts a pose that has become very familiar over recent weeks
A bum note: Miley Cyrus’ singing voice appeared to quiver while she performed Wrecking Ball at the event on Saturday
Drawing a crowd: Fans flocked to see Miley perform at the event
The producer holds the controversial star around her bare waist as she pokes her tongue out at him in a rather explicit manner.
Miley has her hand in Mike’s pocket in one of the images, though fortunately he is dressed more appropriately in black track pants, a white T-shirt, oversized blue hoodie and backwards cap.
Meanwhile, Liam has moved on with Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez.
Mum’s the word: Miley Cyrus was joined at the iHeart Music festival by mother Tish
YouTube video courtesy of Nalani Correa
Miley Cyrus
