Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus promised a "legendary" night ahead of Miley's New Year's Eve party , and the NBC-produced celebration didn't disappoint. The pair headline a star-studded list of performers that also includes Sia, Latto, Rae Sremmurd, Lily, Fletcher and more. However, one of the most talked about musical moments of the Miami show was a name that had never been announced beforehand: Paris Hilton.
The reality star-turned-DJ took the stage for a surprise performance of her latest hit, "Stars Are Blind." Before the reveal, though, only Cyrus took to the stage in a millennial pink dress as she played the opening bars. Sia then joined in for a duet on the nostalgic hit. Finally, Hilton comes on the scene to add to the chaotic magic. (As one Twitter user pointed out, the "Sing, Paris" moment definitely had a "Sing for me, Paul" feel to it.)
In retrospect, it's such a difficult celebration of a year in the early 2000s that could only end with the much-anticipated return of 2006's Stars Are Blind. Hilton announced her updated version on Instagram on Dec. 30, calling it the "Paris version," and Cyrus and Sia helped bring it into the spotlight, much to the delight of fans. Countless viewers commented on the performance on Twitter, calling it "iconic," "hot," and even a "cultural reset." One person called it "the highlight of [their] night," adding, "Sixth grade me comes alive again." As Hilton herself apparently said on stage, "It's so hot."
Hilton originally released "Stars Are Blind" off her 2006 album Paris , at the height of her reality TV fame. It was a surprise blow to the public, but as Hilton told Bustle in September 2020, she "knew exactly what [she] was doing." "This song is a huge part of me, my brand and my life," she added. "Whenever I walk into a club or anywhere, the DJ always plays it. If I were a song, that would be me."
After performing the new version with Cyrus and Sia in Miami, Hilton gushed about the experience on Instagram. "I had so much fun singing #StarsAreBlind with Miley and @SiaMusic on @MileyCyrus' New Year's Eve special!" she wrote, in part. “It’s the perfect way to ring in 2023 and celebrate my new version of this iconic song.”
Of course, the evening was filled with special musical moments. Cyrus and Parton performed several of their respective hits as a duet, including "Wrecking Ball," "I Will Always Love You" and "Jolene." They also referenced the legendary Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" and rock icon Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n Roll." Additionally, Cyrus performed her hit "Midnight Sky" with Fletcher, who posted a photo with Cyrus on Instagram, writing in the caption, "Miley is so hot ”, possibly hinting at the surprise of Stars Are Blind ahead of the show.
