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Miley Cyrus' "Man of Constant Sorrow" Cover Is Pure Country Excellence

The Voice Coach alum threw her entire being into this performance. 

By Chris Phelan

Whether she's dominating pop charts, trying her hand at rock classics, or embracing her country roots — like in the video below — Miley Cyrus ensures her performances are delivered with effortless power, enthusiasm, and emotion. Let's take fans back to a particularly fantastic Cyrus moment from the summer of 2018, when she delivered an epic rendition of the often-covered "Man of Constant Sorrow."

How to Watch

Watch The Voice Mondays and Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock. 

Watch the phenomenal live performance here.

Cyrus, a former Coach on The Voice, perfectly encapsulated the song's folk roots, donning an outfit and on-stage persona that perfectly complemented its sound. 

The event Cyrus performed at saw George Clooney receive a lifetime achievement award from the American Film Institute. Cyrus' live performance was fitting, as Clooney memorably lip-synced "Man of Constant Sorrow" while filming the award-winning 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?

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Miley Cyrus performing at The 66th Annual Grammy Awards

Everything to know about "Man of Constant Sorrow"

Dick Burnett is widely credited with creating "Man of Constant Sorrow," as it was found in a 1913 songbook bearing the title "Farewell Song." Over the next few decades, the song was recorded by countless artists claiming to write the original version. Since the 1950s, it has been covered by acts like the Stanley Brothers, Ginger Baker's Air Force, and other country-centric artists.

While the version found on the soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou? was performed by Soggy Bottom Boys, arguably the most well-known version was recorded by Bob Dylan as part of his 1962 self-titled debut album. Dylan's first album was primarily a collection of folk classics (with a few exceptions), and "Man of Constant Sorrow" was one of the record's highlights. Like most of Dylan's work, the song — and album overall — did not receive critical acclaim until decades after its release.

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