Both women took home some major hardware at Sunday night’s (Feb. 4) show and discussed how hard it is to say the right thing.
There’s a wide gulf between writing and singing your own songs and saying something elegant while giving an awards show thank you speech in an arena packed with the music world’s biggest stars while being honored for those accomplishments. And at Sunday night’s (Feb. 4) 66th annual Grammy Awards, two women who took home multiple awards revealed that acceptance nerves are real.
ET caught up with Billie Eilish, 22, after the show and asked the singer about her private backstage conversation with fellow winner Miley Cyrus, 31, after the “Jaded” star took home her first two Grammys ever, record of the year and best pop solo performance for “Flowers.”
“Not to blow up her [Cyrus’] spot, but she was saying… she was asking me if I also feel when I get up on stage that I say the dumbest s–t I could possibly say?” Eilish told ET of their private chat. “Absolutely, 100 percent. She was like, ‘Why was I saying all that?’”
Eilish told Cyrus she could totally relate, saying, “Sorry, Miley, but I feel the same. I always get up there, and I just poop out of my mouth.” Eilish should be getting used to it by now, considering she and brother Finneas won song of the year and best song written for visual media for their Barbie soundtrack ballad “What Was I Made For?,” which has already scooped up a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination this year.
Eilish appeared somewhat tongue-tied earlier in the evening, when she took home her second song of the year Grammy honor. “That’s stupid guys,” she said looking dumbfounded at her win in a field that also included Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, Jon Batiste, Dua Lipa, SZA and Olivia Rodrigo. “That was a crazy list of incredible people, incredible artists, incredible music. I feel crazy right now. I’m shocked out of my balls.”
Earlier in the night, after winning her first-ever Grammy, Cyrus accepted the best pop solo performance gramophone from one of her icons, Mariah Carey, reveling in the opportunity to share the stage with the fellow pop legend. “This MC is going to stand by this MC because this is just too iconic,” Cyrus said. “I was stuck in the rain in traffic and I thought I was going to miss this moment, and I could have missed this award, that’s fine — but not Mariah Carey.”
Cyrus then offered up a kind of parable about a boy’s wish for a butterfly for his birthday and how it finally came to him when he stopped chasing it so hard. “And right when he did is when the butterfly came and landed right on the tip of his nose. And this song, ‘Flowers,’ is my butterfly. Thank you,” Cyrus said.
It was an elegant anecdote that summed up the unknowable magic of creating a song that connects so deeply with you fans and professional peers. Of course Miley being Miley, when she came on stage later in the broadcast to scoop up her second “Flowers” award, the singer thanked her glam squad and producers while noting that her life was, “beautiful yesterday. Everyone in this world is spectacular, so please don’t think this is important!,” then adding, “I don’t think I forgot anyone — but I might’ve forgotten underwear. Bye!”
