Who was the bigger mess at the Grammys, Katy Perry or Miley Cyrus?

61st Annual Grammy Awards

You can tell that I’m not a professional musical commentator, because I thought Katy Perry was a giant nothingburger at the Grammys, and I thought Miley Cyrus needed to sit down and STOP everything. But people seemed to feel the opposite. Both Katy and Miley participated in the Dolly Parton medley/tribute, only I didn’t even think Katy stuck around that long, so why were people even mad about it? Like, she was barely there and she was easy to ignore. But Miley Cyrus, my lord. First she twanged her bulls–t all over Shawn Mendes’ performance of “In My Blood” and then Miley tried to out-twang and SING OVER Dolly Parton. NO. Hated it.

If we’re judging Katy and Miley on fashion alone, then Miley won. Miley wore a very rock n roll Thierry Mugler suit which looked great on her. Katy chose to go for a much bolder look in Balmain, and she looked like… I don’t even know. A pink marshmallow? A cheap party decoration? This Balmain is so stupid, I don’t even have words.

Imagine thinking that Miley IMPROVED Shawn Mendes’ performance. Why was she twanging all over the place last night?

61st Annual Grammy Awards

Grammy Awards 2019 Arrivals

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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129 Responses to “Who was the bigger mess at the Grammys, Katy Perry or Miley Cyrus?”

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  1. virginfangirls says:

    My vote is Katy. Definitely Katy.

  2. PhillyGal says:

    Katy’s dress is all kinds of ugly. And it makes her body look so weird.

  3. KLO says:

    They both had great make-up and and hair and stupid outfits. The outfits could work, they are just poorly done and not very flattering.

    • Chaine says:

      No, there is no universe in which Katie’s dress would work!

    • Nanny to the rescue says:

      I think for Katy’s outfit to work, you’d need to put it on a woman with more oomph and a longer torso. Some women can make anything work, Katy just isn’t one of them.

  4. Elisa says:

    Miley looks surprisingly good – long hair suits her.
    there are memes online comparing Katy’s dress to a giant tampon. I can’t unsee it now…

    • Agirlandherdog says:

      And now I can’t unsee it either.

      I didn’t hear anything wrong with Miley’s duet with Shawn Mendes. But I’ve never heard the song before, so I’m not an outraged fan getting up in arms because she ruined my favorite song or something.

      • ichabod says:

        Miley Cyrus looked and sounded phenomenal. She is an incredible artist … just ask Stone Gosard, Jeff Ament, Mark Ronson, Dolly Parton etc. etc. She vocally held that flat Dolly medley together.

    • Sharon Lea says:

      I can’t unsee it either.

  5. Bryn says:

    Katys dress looks like that old doll from the 90s with the rubber cupcake dress. Anybody remember that?

    • Wow says:

      Hahahaah a strawberry shortcake

    • Lunde says:

      When I was young some (usually elderly) people used to have these strange dolls in the bathroom where the top was a Barbie doll and that used to “hide” a roll of toilet paper under the skirt – they looked like Katy’s dress

      • TheHeat says:

        YES! That was my first thought as well.

      • Sparkly says:

        Omg, I’d forgotten all about those! Everybody’s mamaw had them. That’s exactly what she looks like.

        Although in the header pic, I thought she looked like Kate Hudson.

      • Giddy says:

        Yes, the infamous toilet doll with the extra roll of tp under its’ skirt.

      • Micky says:

        Yes! My grandma and her friends would make those dolls, except they were to hide the Kleenex box. I had one in my bedroom–a gift from my grandma when I turned 8 in 1972.

      • Florida says:

        Yes Lunde! My grandmother had them, she’d crochet the dress herself! We all had one as she gave them to us as gifts. I thought it was kind of cute actually. But I love “old people” aesthetic. Hard candy in crystal bowls,velvet paintings, Jesus portraits, dripping oil lamps, houseplants, crocheted afghans, all of that and more!

      • Ebi says:

        Hahaha yes– those were my thoughts- crocheted toilet paper hiders.

  6. manda says:

    I’m so tired of seeing everything miley has to offer. I thought she was getting past the exhibitionism, but I guess not. Girl, please put a shirt on, at least sometimes, ok? I also can’t stand her voice. I liked party in the usa, though

    For a second, I thought that katy was kate hudson. I don’t think I like the blond on katy, her brunette was really pretty IMO

    • Chaine says:

      ITA about Miley. I feel like there’s been some grand industry conspiracy to foist her non-talent on us for decades, when will it be over?!

      • manda says:

        I would have thought it would have been over by now, because it doesn’t seem like any of her songs or albums really hit, but maybe they do? They just keep coming

      • Steff says:

        I’ve always loathed her voice. Folks point to that Jolene cover like it’s fricken Mozart and I’m left very confused. She sounds like a chain smoking trucker on helium.

      • lucy2 says:

        I don’t really care for the tone of her voice either.

      • sammich says:

        Agree with all of you. Her voice is SO GRATING.

        And Steff, I’m totally feeling your comment about Jolene. Every. Single. Time. someone says they do not like Cyrus, out comes the chorus of “OMG you have to check out her cover of Jolene!!!111” I have checked it out. It sucks too.

      • Good GRrrrrl says:

        Speaking of old person’s aesthetics, I told my son that -we- used to influence what music got play, by requesting. Now we have to hear Miley or Katy ad infinitum until we get numbed to it.

    • yiza says:

      I was here to say this! I thought it was blake lively in the header photo! All these women have had so much plastic surgery they look exactly the same.

    • Sparkly says:

      Oh whoops, I just said the same thing about Katy’s Kate face up above.

      • manda says:

        bc didn’t kate hudson have short hair at some point? I can’t recall. I just don’t think this is katy’s best look

    • Capepopsie says:

      Totally agree!

    • otaku fairy says:

      Many women just aren’t going to be modest when it comes to dress. It’s something to get used to, for some. This outfit is super tame by her standards. I don’t like the earrings she paired with it though.

    • Sarah B says:

      I totally agree! She needs to cover up and feel some shame for her body. At least put on a red robe. FOR SHAME, GIRL.

      Signed,
      Ofjoshua

      • manda says:

        I didn’t say that, at all. I never said she should feel ashamed of her body. If she only dressed like this sometimes, I wouldn’t have even commented. I just don’t need to see her tits during every single performance. You can be sexy without showing so much all the time. There is something to be said for varying your look. She does this no shirt under an open jacket thing a lot, and it just gets old

      • Lisa says:

        Hahahahaha yesssss

      • Bella Bella says:

        manda, at least it’s not no jacket with pasties. Whenever I see this look I feel like it is her compromise to her hubby about not showing so much skin anymore. I also thought she was pregnant because of the boxy jacket. I’ve never surmised that about anyone before, but it was my first thought when I saw her.

    • mii says:

      Well said! Agree with Chaine and Steff’s comments as well.

    • april says:

      Right on

    • Yes Doubtful says:

      Her voice has power, but I don’t like the tone of it or her vibrato. She’s always been just “meh” to me.

  7. SK says:

    I really liked that duet and I thought it was nicely balanced and that she gave him hid due and complimented him. Didn’t see the Dolly one.

    • EMc says:

      I agree SK! I thought it was really nice. Especially compared to some of the other duets I saw last night.

    • Jen says:

      Katy drove me crazy during the Dolly tribute. She tried so hard to be extra after Kacey Musgraves finished her part, it was a huge eye roll for me.

    • Ebi says:

      I just listened to it and thought it was great. I like her and her voice and her style- or lack thereof. She was having fun and he was into it. They sounded great. Also- she is Dolly’s god-daughter.

    • ichabod says:

      I Agree!

  8. claudette says:

    Balmain also messed with Kylie ‘s look. All kinds of ugly…

  9. Scal says:

    Miley is Dolly’s goddaughter-they’ve done several performances together and are very close. So if she was ‘singing over’ Dolly that’s how they rehearsed it. It didn’t seem that way to me though…..

    Am I just not hearing it? She doesn’t sound abnormally twangy to me compared to when she normally sings vs her old pop songs. Isn’t she living in Nashville half the time now?

    • EMc says:

      I dont hear it either, sounds to me much like she always sounds. Which is better than some others who sang last night.

    • SarahLee says:

      I didn’t hear it either, Scal. In fact, I thought Miley was looking at Dolly almost constantly – letting Dolly take the lead and making sure to stay with her and not get ahead. I thought she was great. Did not hear the Shawn Mendes song, however.

  10. Erinn says:

    I scrolled through this 3 times looking for Katy because I was CONVINCED that was Kate Hudson. Did she get a bunch of work done? I find her unrecognizable.

  11. Lucy says:

    Gawd, Shawn Mendes is HOT. And he always look so relaxed and comfortable with himself, without seeming cocky.

  12. Bee says:

    That performance was great….and then Miley Cyrus appeared. I have 0% level of understanding of what people find appealing about her. She managed to morph this potentially good performance into something unpleasant sounding and seemingly unrehearsed.

  13. Eric says:

    Miley has chops people.

    If you’re not sure, look up her take on “sayh hello to heaven” by Temple of the Dog. She’s no Chris Cornell but it’s pretty nice.

    • RBC says:

      Also look up Miley preforming “Jolene” it is on YouTube the “Backyard Sessions”. She may be over the top at times but the woman has talent

    • Jerusha says:

      She did a fine job on You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go on the Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan album. I’ve had a soft spot for her ever since. Definitely don’t like everything she does, but when she has quality songs she can hit it.

    • Veronica says:

      Yeah, she’s one of the few singers who sounds worse on the radio than live. I was very surprised to see one of her live performances on SNL and realize her voice was better than I’d thought. I actually think the biggest problem is that she has more of an alto range, whereas a lot of pop songs try to hit soprano notes because the ear picks them up better.

    • Maggie says:

      I don’t equate screeching into a microphone to having good chops.

    • Grant says:

      Also check out Miley’s performance of “Don’t Dream it’s Over” with Ariana Grande. The live version from One Manchester is nice but the other Happy Hippy video is phenomenal. They both sound incredible and their voices really complement one another.

    • Penny says:

      Heck yeah Miley can sing!! I thought she sounded really lovey with Shawn, they also performed the night before for a Dolly tribute show and seemed to really like each other. I also don’t recall celebitchy covering the story of her and Liam donating money after their house burned down to Malibu, I’m happy to be proven wrong though

      • ichabod says:

        I agree. Most live performances on the Grammy’s sound horrible and flat because those artists typically rely on auto-tune. Miley Cyrus is extremely talented and she delivers live. Haters are acting like she simply crashed Shawn Mendes’ performance. She was asked to perform with him and they sounded great together! He appeared genuinely appreciative and happy. Stone Gossard praises her talent. The entire scope of her talent, charitible contributions, and kindness are never covered here. She is only 26 years old and has accomplished much and continues to inspire.

  14. Kat says:

    Thought Miley looked great. Katy’s hair is nice, but her dress makes her look like one of those Barbie cakes little girls like for their birthday.

  15. Feebee says:

    I thought Katy was a little flat and I didn’t really hear all the twang in Miley’s voice. Also I didn’t notice her over-singing but by that stage I might have been busy wondering what she has against shirts.

  16. Lizzie says:

    both of their heads look great

  17. Chef Grace says:

    Miley borrowed Liams pantsuit and KP’s outfit looks like a snake after a big meal.

  18. Booradley says:

    Dolly is her godmother and they’ve sung many times before, taking it back to the Hannah Montana days, because yes I am a fan of Hannah Montana. I’m sure she and Dolly we’re having a great time

    • Amy Tennant says:

      Yes, Miley and Dolly are, by all accounts, close (according to interviews with both women). Haven’t watched the performance so can’t speak to that, but my bet is Dolly wanted Miley there at least

  19. PlayItAgain says:

    Katy’s dress looks like a tampon.

    I’m done with Miley. Just…done. Have been for years.

  20. Pretty sure I saw Katy Perry storing the extra roll of toilet paper in my grandmas bathroom when I was a kid.

  21. Erinn says:

    I love Shawn. I’ve hit an almost maternal “he’s such a cutie” kind of feelings for him even though I’m only 8 years older than he is. He’s incredibly talented, he’s got a beautiful voice and he seems like a great kid.

    I don’t hate their duet of his song, honestly. I spent a lot of mornings driving to work singing/tearing up to that song when it comes on haha. It came out during a bad pain flareup for me and while a lot of other things were going on that were compounding the stress.

    • Giddy says:

      I actually thought their duet was great. If Miley would cover up just a little and quit mugging for the cameras like that picture above, I’d like her more. But I thought she did great on the duet. She really is very talented.

  22. Patsee says:

    Miley and Shawn sounded great together and the performance actually improved the song. Also, Jesus Christ, you’re bitter.

  23. smee says:

    Katy P’s dress looks like Dancing Bear (from Country Bear Jamboree at WD) going to the prom….

    Miley looks fantastic in that suit, esp the pants.

  24. Case says:

    I thought Miley looked and sounded great last night. Not a mess at all.

  25. Mellie says:

    I think Miley has a nice voice, but she really looked kind of crazy in the eyes during the Jolene rendition. I thought it was a bit over the top and don’t get me started on Katy, she was just terrible. Who thought putting her in that medley was a good idea?

  26. Mrs.Silver says:

    Why does Miley have to stick out her freaking tongue?? I’d of hoped those ridiculous “look at me” try hards, died out with her foolish antics.

  27. mander says:

    For some reason I am craving a pink hostess snowball.

  28. Winnie Cooper's Mom says:

    Katy needs to retire. Her moment was long ago and she keeps getting worse on stage as time goes on. She has enough money and can live a quiet life with Orlando.

  29. BeanieBean says:

    I thought Miley did just fine. And I liked both her suits.

  30. paranormalgirl says:

    Katy looks like one of those crocheted toilet paper holders with the doll stuck in it, where the dress conceals the extra roll…

  31. Katherine Hughes says:

    Is it just me or does it look like Katy has gotten some work done on her face??

  32. Mamama says:

    Katy looks like Blake Lively mixed with Kate Hudson here

  33. Lilla says:

    Oh, no, not the tongue again. For Pete’s sake, of all the attention-seeking, stupid gimmicks, I think I dislike this even more than anything K-related. Make her put it back in and keep it there, please God. Or make social media stop showing it!

  34. Florida says:

    I dislike them both. But I need to rant about Miley’s shoes. Can that style of shoe PLEASE go away already?? I think it is so ugly and I am grossed out by seeing so much of people’s feet all the time. Why is it so popular? I truly don’t understand!

  35. Elizabeth says:

    Katy looks like a bottle of Cinderella body wash for little girls. Maybe that’s her leitmotiv, Disney-grown-up-and-gone-wrong.

  36. Vegan says:

    I’m sorry what? Mendes is a very good songwriter but he has the most forgettable voice of everyone up in that stage , I don’t usually enjoy Miley’s singing but she pulled that performance way up and out from what it would’ve been otherwise.

  37. ds says:

    I just listened to both performances. I don’t think Dolly wanted to go all out at that point so Miley got a bit louder, but it looked like they were having fun. Her duet with that Shawn dude, who, I don’t know (sorry) was nice. Think she was decent in it and not over the top in any way. But oh my god, Katy and that other woman (who I also don’t know) at the beginning – I can’t say which one was worse. It was horrible.

  38. adastraperaspera says:

    I loved both the Dolly tribute/performance and the one done by Diana Ross!! Just two mega-talented stars who couldn’t help but outshine everyone else. I do think Dolly would have been a better match with professional singers such as Kristin Chenoweth or Andra Day–but Miley is family to Dolly, so I think that’s why she was included. I agree that neither Katy Perry nor Kacey Musgrave were up to the task–they just don’t have the chops when singing live.

  39. Jag says:

    So Miley is back to sticking out her tongue, eh? Not going to watch the performances because I don’t like her voice and don’t need to see everything on her, either.

  40. me1 says:

    Anyone see the “Blackface Shoe” Katy created? It’s being pulled for obvious reasons.

  41. Gracetoyourfrankie says:

    Katy Perry, hands down. So sad. Her style has tanked so bad eversince she decided on her horrible bleach dye job and cut.

  42. Daisy says:

    Shawn is boring on stage and doesn’t sound good live. Miley was the only good thing about that performance, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t even like her.
    But Katy… oh dear. Also Olivier Rousteing can’t do haute couture, that Balmain collection was ridiculous and every piece was a disaster.

  43. Kebbie says:

    Miley has such a distinctive voice, it just isn’t suited for duets, IMO. Especially not duets with people who have really smooth voices like Shawn Mendes. She’s got that rough, raspy sound that can sound good by itself (her cover of Jolene) but isn’t ideal for singing or harmonizing with another person.

    • Veronica says:

      I’ve always thought her voice was better suited for smokier pieces or even rock ‘n’ roll. Most of her pop music is mediocre to me because it’s generally written for higher-pitched voices these days.

  44. Janet says:

    Not sure what is wrong with Miley’s outfit. She is stylish and on point. You guys love trousers here!! Or is it just when Meghan wears them. Are posters pearl clutching about her low neck line is?? Really??

    • Veronica says:

      Yeah, I’m a little surprised by the suit criticism. The deep-V cut is pretty tame for her. There were women at the Grammy’s showing just as much if not more – and she’s got the benefit of a modest chest to begin with, so it’s not screamingly loud and in your face. A little skin is fine, particularly if it’s offset by full length coverage elsewhere.

    • Kitten says:

      I don’t get it either. I could skip the tongue-out posing but that suit is sexy as hell and looks great on her. And the larger point is what Veronica said above: this is TAME for her. FFS this was the girl that was running around in pasties only a couple years ago. I think she looks hot and completely appropriate for the Grammys.

  45. Rituxie says:

    Katy Perry
    Ariana Grande
    Amber Rose

    All women whose hairstyles have outlasted presidents… time for a change, ladies!!

  46. Marie says:

    I’m a bit confused about this post. I wonder if we did see the same show. First Alicia Keys, and now Miley? In my book we are talking about true, real singers here. Katy Perry, bless her heart cannot even hold a candle to Miley. Love Miley or hate her, but she delivered some great stuff. As much as I love Shawn Mendes, by the time Miley was on that was it. She has the pitch, the voici, the presence. And with Aunty Dolly I found her perfect as well. She is of another caliber. Give her credit for that.

  47. TyrantDestroyed says:

    Miley’s tongue made me had to go and watch again that famous MTV MVAs from 2013. That was an epic strange act.

  48. Idsmith says:

    I totally disagree about Miley. She’s a super talented singer. Katy isn’t

  49. Keaton says:

    Oh Katy, no just no. Who told her that looked good.
    Miley looked hot IMO and appropriate for the Grammys.

  50. Canadiangirl says:

    I thought Miley was great. She and a dolly seemed so engaged with each other that I felt bad for the other woman singing with them because she seemed on the outside of their connection. On the red carpet, Dolly was asked about Miley and gushed about her, saying “i’m Glad she is mine”, which was so sweet.

  51. youdontdeservemiley says:

    They were not even in the same galaxy performance wise. And I’m so sick of you assholes running Miley down. She’s superb.

  52. ichabod says:

    The press was asking Miley for a tongue moment and it was so inocuous because it was a momentary action … but of course that is the chosen photo to highlight here. She looked amazing and not overdone and there are many beautiful photos of her sans tongue. She also sounded fantastic. I would have loved to hear her rock the Grammys with a solo performance.

  53. Shannon Malcom says:

    Katy is so scrolldown fug in this dress. From the header picture, I thought, “Wow, she looks great!” Then I saw the rest of the dress.

  54. Suz says:

    Katy’s party decoration from the 80s dress was way less offensive than Miley one-upping what would have been a beautiful performance by Shawn Mendes. I’m not even a big fan of his, but it was going really well – he didn’t need Miley. Fashion wise, Miley looked fantastic on the red carpet.

  55. Sunnyjyl says:

    Miley Cyrus was not a mess.

  56. lubbylou says:

    Isn’t it time Miley Cyrus grew out of pulling that stupid face?