Plastic Hearts

{{Quote box|width=20%|align=left|quote="[Younger Now] was obviously a little bit more country influenced, but I still really love pop music and I love music that can be played at the club."|source={{mdash}}Cyrus on her shift in musical direction since Younger Now (2017){{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3106509/miley-cyrus-teases-seventh-album-mike-will-made-it/|title=Miley Cyrus's Next Album Will Probably Sound More Like Bangerz Than Younger Now|last=Roth|first=Madeline|publisher=MTV|date=December 11, 2018|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=December 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216183659/http://www.mtv.com/news/3106509/miley-cyrus-teases-seventh-album-mike-will-made-it/|url-status=dead}}}}

Feeling distant from the mainstream urban culture she explored on Bangerz (2013) and the musical experimentalism of Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz (2015), Cyrus decided to go for "rootsy" country music elements while making her sixth studio album Younger Now (2017).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7783997/miley-cyrus-cover-story-new-music-malibu|title=Miley Cyrus Breaks Silence on Rootsy New Music, Fiance Liam Hemsworth & America: 'Unity Is What We Need'|last=Norris|first=John|magazine=Billboard|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504130342/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/7783997/miley-cyrus-cover-story-new-music-malibu|url-status=live}} The album was released on September 29, 2017, to lukewarm critical and commercial performance. It received an average score of 58 out of 100 on Metacritic,{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/younger-now/miley-cyrus|title=Younger Now Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=December 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207194833/https://www.metacritic.com/music/younger-now/miley-cyrus|url-status=live}} and charted at number five on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 60,000 copies and 66,000 overall album-equivalent units.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7669630/miley-cyrus-younger-now-first-week-sales?safari=1|title=Miley Cyrus' New Album Only Sold 60,000 Copies In Its Opening Week|last=Wass|first=Mike|website=Idolator|date=October 9, 2017|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113182455/https://www.idolator.com/7669630/miley-cyrus-younger-now-first-week-sales?safari=1|url-status=dead}} Its lead single "Malibu" became her ninth top-ten single on the US Billboard Hot 100, while the title track peaked at number 79.{{cite web|url=https://www.idolator.com/7688826/flashback-miley-cyrus-younger-now|title=Should Have Been Bigger: Miley Cyrus' "Younger Now"|last=Wass|first=Mike|publisher=Idolator|date=November 28, 2018|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113182420/https://www.idolator.com/7688826/flashback-miley-cyrus-younger-now|url-status=dead}} Cyrus confirmed there would be no further singles only one month after the album was released and that she would not be touring for it.{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.co.uk/news/334bo7/miley-cyrus-isnt-releasing-any-more-younger-now-singles|title=Miley Cyrus Isn't Releasing Any More 'Younger Now' Singles|last=McNeilage|first=Ross|publisher=MTV UK|date=October 30, 2017|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=December 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206172050/http://www.mtv.co.uk/miley-cyrus/news/miley-cyrus-isnt-releasing-any-more-younger-now-singles|url-status=live}}

Two weeks prior to Younger Now being released, Cyrus claimed that she was "over [the album]" and was "already two songs deep on the next one";{{cite web|url=https://people.com/music/miley-cyrus-already-over-new-album/|title=Miley Cyrus Is Already 'Over' Her New Album: 'I Want To Figure Out What I Want to Do Next'|last=Quinn|first=Dave|work=People|date=September 16, 2017|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=November 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030315/https://people.com/music/miley-cyrus-already-over-new-album/|url-status=live}} however, she later said that she began working on the album in early 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_7-bSmJf8k|title=Miley Cyrus cuenta detalles de su trilogía de EPs: She Is Coming, She Is Here y She Is Everything|publisher=Los 40. YouTube|date=June 7, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113182420/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_7-bSmJf8k|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/04/miley-cyrus-feeling-inspired-heads-back-studio-will-write-break-ups-10858815/|title=Miley Cyrus is feeling 'so inspired' as she heads back into the studio but will she write about her break-ups?|last=Berlage|first=Eliza|newspaper=Metro|date=October 4, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2019|archive-date=October 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004144400/https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/04/miley-cyrus-feeling-inspired-heads-back-studio-will-write-break-ups-10858815/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-is-working-with-mike-will-made-it-again-surprise-surprise-767698/|title=It Only Took a Year for Miley Cyrus to Pivot Back to Hip-Hop|last=Holmes|first=Charles|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 11, 2018|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212123306/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-is-working-with-mike-will-made-it-again-surprise-surprise-767698/|url-status=live}} In December 2019, Cyrus acknowledged that the musical direction of Younger Now "wasn't exactly the home for [her]" and credited Ronson with "[helping her] carve out [her] sound, where [she] could do everything that [she wanted], which is more modern." Cyrus later cited Britney Spears and Metallica as musical influences on the album.{{cite web |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/miley-cyrus-cites-britney-spears-and-metallica-as-influences-for-new-album/ |title=Miley Cyrus cites from Britney Spears to Metallica as influences for new album |work=Music Feeds |date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=September 15, 2020 |author=Langford, Jackson |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926120418/https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/miley-cyrus-cites-britney-spears-and-metallica-as-influences-for-new-album/ |url-status=live }}

{{Quote box|width=20%|align=right|quote="My record is called She Is Miley Cyrus. 'She' does not represent a gender. She is not just a woman. 'She' doesn't refer to a vagina. She is a force of nature. She is power. She can be anything you want to be, therefore, she is everything. She is the super she. She is the she-ro. She is the She-E-O."|source={{mdash}}Cyrus describing the meaning of the album's original title{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a28280119/miley-cyrus-elle-interview/|title=Miley Cyrus on Her Marriage, Sexuality, and New Album|work=Elle|last=Lambert|first=Molly|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=July 12, 2019|archive-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711224323/https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a28280119/miley-cyrus-elle-interview/|url-status=live}}}}

In November 2018, Cyrus announced she was collaborating with Ronson, and continued work on her forthcoming record.{{cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8510423/miley-cyrus-teases-new-song-met-gala| title=Miley Cyrus Teases New Song On Ride to the Met Gala: Listen |magazine=Billboard |date=May 7, 2019 |access-date=May 11, 2019 |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509180946/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8510423/miley-cyrus-teases-new-song-met-gala |url-status=live}} Cyrus and Ronson told Matt Wilkinson of Beats 1 that they were "80% done" with their albums, and tentatively planned for Cyrus' project to be released in June 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/12/miley-cyrus-and-mike-will-made-it-are-reuniting-on-her-new-album|title=Miley Cyrus and Mike Will Made-It Are Reuniting on Her New Album|last=Montgomery|first=Sarah Jasmine|work=Complex|date=December 11, 2018|access-date=December 17, 2018|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212124707/https://www.complex.com/music/2018/12/miley-cyrus-and-mike-will-made-it-are-reuniting-on-her-new-album|url-status=live}}

Cyrus held a private listening session of the album for iHeartRadio executives upon announcing its completion in May.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/music/miley-cyrus-confirms-new-album-is-complete/|title=Miley Cyrus Confirms Her New Album Is All Done: 'She Is Coming'|last=Quinn|first=Dave|work=People|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 11, 2019|archive-date=May 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511024143/https://people.com/music/miley-cyrus-confirms-new-album-is-complete/|url-status=live}} On May 9, Cyrus announced on social media she would be releasing new music on May 30,{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/miley-cyrus-hints-new-music-release|title=Miley Cyrus hints new music release on social media: 'She is coming'|last=Schmidt|first=Ann|publisher=Fox News|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 11, 2019|archive-date=May 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511000654/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/miley-cyrus-hints-new-music-release|url-status=live}} and later stated the rollout of her new music would be "unconventional".{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2019/05/28/miley-cyrus-she-is-coming/|title=Miley Cyrus Releases Info on Upcoming Music|work=Wonderland|date=May 28, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602014629/https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2019/05/28/miley-cyrus-she-is-coming/|url-status=live}} On May 31, Cyrus tweeted that the album would be titled She Is Miley Cyrus, and that it would be preceded by three six-track extended plays: She Is Coming on May 31, She Is Here in the summer, and She Is Everything in the fall.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/miley-cyrus-releases-new-album-she-is-coming-first-ep-trilogy|title=Miley Cyrus releases new album, 'SHE IS COMING', first of EP trilogy|last=Wallace|first=Danielle|publisher=Fox News|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531075441/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/miley-cyrus-releases-new-album-she-is-coming-first-ep-trilogy|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-new-ep-she-is-coming-2503380|title=Listen to Miley Cyrus' new EP 'She Is Coming'|last=Moore|first=Sam|work=NME|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531113745/https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-new-ep-she-is-coming-2503380|url-status=live}} Cyrus described the three EPs as "different [chapters] to a trilogy" that together would form the full-length album.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-new-music-she-is-coming-840693/|title=Miley Cyrus Plots New Project 'She Is Coming'|last=Blistein|first=Jon|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 27, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=June 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604111240/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-new-music-she-is-coming-840693/|url-status=live}} Their track listings were to be "seasonal" in nature; she related She Is Coming to "[wanting to feel] light and feel the warmth" of early summer, and She Is Here and She Is Everything to being "colder and a little darker" as the release cycle was to extend into the fall. She Is Here was inspired by "the present of where [Cyrus is] at", while She Is Everything was to be comparatively more ballad-driven. She later explained that the "she" pronoun in the album title described the "most confident version of herself".

File:Liam Hemsworth June 2016.jpg

Cyrus continued work on the record following her separation from then-husband Liam Hemsworth in August.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8527268/miley-cyrus-studio-photo|title=Miley Cyrus Shares Pic From the Studio Following Liam Hemsworth Split|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=Billboard|date=August 13, 2019|access-date=August 13, 2019|archive-date=August 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813215053/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8527268/miley-cyrus-studio-photo|url-status=live}} The following month, it was reported that Cyrus was undecided between updating the existing album that was completed before her divorce or scrapping that version of the record altogether.{{cite web |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/miley-cyrus/album-break-up-kaitlynn-carter-liam-hemsworth |title=Miley Cyrus 'updating album' to reflect heartache over Liam Hemsworth & Kaitlynn Carter |website=Capital FM |date=September 27, 2019 |access-date=October 2, 2019 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001021347/https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/miley-cyrus/album-break-up-kaitlynn-carter-liam-hemsworth/ |url-status=live }} On October 20, it was speculated from Cyrus' Instagram Live video that the release date for the full-length album was scheduled for her birthday on November 23, 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3143143/miley-cyrus-new-album-rumored-tracklist/|title=Miley Cyrus' New Album May Feature Cardi B and Shawn Mendes|last=Roth|first=Madeline|publisher=MTV News|date=October 21, 2019|access-date=October 21, 2019|archive-date=October 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022005723/http://www.mtv.com/news/3143143/miley-cyrus-new-album-rumored-tracklist/|url-status=dead}} On November 3, Ronson stated that Cyrus' collaborations with him were tentatively planned to be released before the end of that year.{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/mark-ronson-says-miley-cyrus-has-couple-of-songs-coming-out-before-2020|title=Mark Ronson says Miley Cyrus has a couple of songs coming out before the end of the year|last=Kenneally|first=Cerys|work=The Line of Best Fit|date=November 4, 2019|access-date=November 5, 2019|archive-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106032354/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/mark-ronson-says-miley-cyrus-has-couple-of-songs-coming-out-before-2020|url-status=live}} On November 9, however, it was reported that Cyrus' new music would be delayed until early 2020 due to her vocal cord surgery earlier that month.{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1091423/miley-cyrus-undergoes-vocal-cord-surgery-after-dealing-with-tonsillitis|title=Miley Cyrus Undergoes Vocal Cord Surgery After Dealing With Tonsillitis|last=Heller|first=Corinne|publisher=E! News|date=November 9, 2019|access-date=November 9, 2019|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110010005/https://www.eonline.com/news/1091423/miley-cyrus-undergoes-vocal-cord-surgery-after-dealing-with-tonsillitis|url-status=live}}

On New Year's Day 2020, Cyrus uploaded a highlight video of the past decade and announced that "[the] new era starts now".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8547216/miley-cyrus-decade-video-2020-new-music|title=Miley Cyrus Reflects On the Past Decade, Teases What's Coming Next|last=Iasimone|first=Ashley|magazine=Billboard|date=January 1, 2020|access-date=January 1, 2020|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102005008/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8547216/miley-cyrus-decade-video-2020-new-music|url-status=live}} She stated "[she was] getting super close [and was] feeling the urgency" during an interview with DJ Smallzy on March 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/miley-cyrus-gives-update-on-super-rock-and-roll-new-album-2620696|title=Miley Cyrus gives update on "super rock and roll" new album|last=Daly|first=Rhian|work=NME|date=March 4, 2020|access-date=August 5, 2020|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809025631/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/miley-cyrus-gives-update-on-super-rock-and-roll-new-album-2620696|url-status=live}} She posted a clip of the music video for her song "Start All Over" with the hashtags "#sheiscoming" and "#butforrealthistime" on August 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-teases-new-music-as-she-tells-fans-to-meet-miley-cyrus-again-2721234|title=Miley Cyrus teases new music as she tells fans to 'Meet Miley Cyrus... again'|last=Langford|first=Jackson|work=NME|date=August 5, 2020|access-date=August 5, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806180702/https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-teases-new-music-as-she-tells-fans-to-meet-miley-cyrus-again-2721234|url-status=live}} With the release of the single "Midnight Sky" on August 14, Cyrus confirmed the cancellation of the She Is Here and She Is Everything EPs, citing that "this year has been extremely unexpected [and] I guess I was feeling like it didn't make sense for me to continue the next two projects."{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/miley-cyrus-isnt-planning-to-release-an-album-any-time-soon-it-doesnt-make-sense-for-me__30761/|title=Miley Cyrus isn't planning to release an album any time soon: "It doesn't make sense for me"|last=Copsey|first=Rob|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918163101/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/miley-cyrus-isnt-planning-to-release-an-album-any-time-soon-it-doesnt-make-sense-for-me__30761/|url-status=live}} She stated she did not have plans to release the full-length album in the near future because "when you write a record, a lot of the time, you're writing your experiences, and then by the time the record comes out, you've evolved past that experience" whereas releasing standalone singles "allows you to talk to your fans in real time". She later claimed she would wait until she could tour again to release the record,{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/pop/miley-cyrus-new-album-tour-wont-release/|title=Miley Cyrus Won't Release Her New Album Until She Can Tour Again|last=Rossignol|first=Derrick|work=Uproxx|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=October 2, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930004135/https://uproxx.com/pop/miley-cyrus-new-album-tour-wont-release/|url-status=live}} however the album was later reported to be released in November.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/miley-cyrus-eyes-november-for-new-album-release__31209/|title=Miley Cyrus eyes November for new album release|last=Copsey|first=Rob|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=October 12, 2020|access-date=October 12, 2020|archive-date=October 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012182436/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/miley-cyrus-eyes-november-for-new-album-release__31209/|url-status=live}} On October 23, Cyrus announced the album's new title to be Plastic Hearts and that it would be released on November 27; it became available for preorder that day.{{cite tweet|user=MileyCyrus|number=1319489170125934592|title=PLASTIC HEARTS OUT NOVEMBER 27th. PRE ORDER NOW: https://mileyl.ink/PlasticHearts|date=October 23, 2020|access-date=October 23, 2020}}

The album artwork for Plastic Hearts was photographed by Mick Rock, who is widely known for his work with artists including Joan Jett and Debbie Harry.{{cite web|url=https://vmagazine.com/article/miley-cyrus-announces-new-rock-album/|title=Miley Cyrus Announces New Rock Album|last=Rikhy|first=Trishna|work=V|date=October 23, 2020|access-date=November 14, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115040432/https://vmagazine.com/article/miley-cyrus-announces-new-rock-album/|url-status=live}} It was the last album cover taken by Rock who died in 2021. The standard cover includes the name of the album written sideways and an image of Cyrus with a pink filter, reminiscent of the cover of Generation X's 1981 album, Kiss Me Deadly. There are also limited edition copies from Cyrus' website featuring black-and-white and full color variants.{{cite tweet|last=Cyrus|first=Miley Ray|user=mileycyrus|number=1327715951358267393|date=November 13, 2020|title=shop.mileycyrus.com|access-date=November 16, 2020}} Cyrus is pictured on the cover with a blonde mullet, wearing a Jean Paul Gaultier sleeveless black-and-white shirt with the word "censored" printed on it,{{cite tweet|last=Gaultier|first=Jean Paul|user=JPGaultier|number=1330762024792551426|date=November 23, 2020|title=Feeling #YoungerNow? #HappyBirthday to superstar @mileycyrus wearing a vintage #JeanPaulGaultier "Censored" shirt on the cover of her new album|access-date=November 24, 2020}} and accessorized with silver jewelry.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9484634/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-cover/|title=Miley Cyrus is a Pop Queen on Dramatic 'Plastic Hearts' Album Cover|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=Billboard|date=November 16, 2020|access-date=November 16, 2020|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116132148/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9484634/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-cover/|url-status=live}}

In terms of musical influence, Cyrus described the album as "[having] kind of everything".{{Cite web |title=Miley Cyrus and Mike Will Made-It Are Reuniting on Her New Album |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2018/12/miley-cyrus-and-mike-will-made-it-are-reuniting-on-her-new-album |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Complex |language=en}} She later explained that she considers her to be "genderless" and a "mosaic of all the things [she's] been in before" in an interview for Vanity Fair.{{Cite magazine |date=2019-02-21 |title=Cover Story: Miley Everlasting |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/02/miley-cyrus-cover-story |access-date=2023-01-16 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}} She compared her work to Ronson for "rocked, modern Debbie Harry or Joan Jett", while her respective collaborations with Mike Will Made It and Wyatt brought elements of hip hop and alternative pop. In September 2020, the singer cited the heavy metal band Metallica and pop singer Britney Spears as influences for the album.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-14 |title=Miley Cyrus Cites Britney Spears And Metallica As Influences For New Album |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/miley-cyrus-cites-britney-spears-and-metallica-as-influences-for-new-album/ |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Music Feeds}}

Plastic Hearts' opening track "WTF Do I Know" was described by British Vogue as "a galloping rock stomper that recalls the stop-start rhythm of The Strokes with a tinge of glam rock",{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/miss-vogue/article/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts|title=Everything You Need To Know About Miley Cyrus's New Album 'Plastic Hearts'|website=British Vogue|date=November 27, 2020|access-date=December 21, 2020}} with People magazine describing its lyrics as "Cyrus singing about the uncertainty of life and is a clear nod to Hemsworth, 30, who she split from last year." Cyrus stated the song is "not that it's how I feel every second of the day, it's how I felt for a moment".{{cite web|url= https://people.com/music/miley-cyrus-reveals-which-lyrics-from-her-song-wtf-do-i-know-are-about-ex-liam-hemsworth/|title= Miley Cyrus Reveals Which Lyrics from Her Song 'WTF Do I Know' Are About Ex Liam Hemsworth|website=People|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=December 21, 2020}} The title track "Plastic Hearts" "opts for a more jam-orientated rock flavour, slowly blooming out of a piano and percussion intro". "Angels like You", the album's third track, was compared by British Vogue to Cyrus' 2013 single "Wrecking Ball", where "Cyrus glides between fragile heartbreak ("Won't call me by name, only baby") in the verses, to a full-throated roar of defiance on the sky-scraping chorus ("I know that you're wrong for me, gonna wish we never met on the day I leave"), with Cosmopolitan referring to Cyrus' 2019 relationship with Kaitlynn Carter as the song's lyrical inspiration.{{cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a34811273/miley-cyrus-angels-like-you-kaitlynn-carter/|title= Miley Cyrus's "Angels Like You" Sounds Like It's About Kaitlynn Carter|date= November 28, 2020|access-date=December 21, 2020}}

Second single "Prisoner" was described by NME as a "heartache anthem" and "is a glam declaration of independence".{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/miley-cyrus-and-dua-lipa-new-song-prisoner-review-plastic-hearts-2821403|title= Miley Cyrus and Dua Lipa – 'Prisoner' track review: a disco-punk anthem|website=NME|last=Shutler|first=Ali|date=November 20, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020}} The theme of independence is shared with "Midnight Sky", in which Cyrus is said to be "tak[ing] back her narrative" and being confident in herself.{{cite web |first1=Patrick |last1=Ryan |title=Miley Cyrus gets personal on new disco-inspired song 'Midnight Sky,' shares self-directed video |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/08/14/miley-cyrus-midnight-sky-new-song-video/3370913001/ |work=USA Today |access-date=August 14, 2020 |date=August 14, 2020 }}{{cite magazine |first1=Rania |last1=Aniftos |title=She's Here: Miley Cyrus Drops 'Midnight Sky' Single & Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9433998/miley-cyrus-midnight-sky-single-video |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 14, 2020 |date=August 14, 2020 }} Fifth track "Gimme What I Want" shows industrial influences and reflects on the singer's choice of giving herself to someone else but if they don't want it, she'd be alright by herself. The track received many comparisons to Nine Inch Nails.

Eighth track "High", co-produced by Mark Ronson and co-written with Caitlyn Smith, is a country ballad that "channels the rustic, singsong around the campfire varnished hurt of the A Star Is Born soundtrack".{{Cite web|title=Miley Cyrus: Plastic Hearts|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Pitchfork|language=en}} "Hate Me" is a bittersweet song that shows Cyrus making the blame for busted romance. The track has also been interpreted as a response to the negative press about Cyrus and a reflection on how the media attention surrounding her would suddenly become positive if she died.{{Cite web|last=Jenkins|first=Craig|date=2020-12-01|title=On Plastic Hearts, Miley Cyrus Finally Owns a Sound|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review.html|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Vulture|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|last=Amorosi|first=A. D.|date=2020-11-27|title=Miley Cyrus Goes Blonde-on-Blondie-er on 'Plastic Hearts': Album Review|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-review-album-1234841268/|access-date=2021-02-09|work=Variety|language=en-US}}

File:Gin Rummy.jpg is mentioned in the last track of the album as a metaphor for the powerful men of the world.]]

Tenth track "Bad Karma" features Joan Jett on vocals and Angel Olsen on guitar. It is a high-camp panto of '80s hard rock, which finds Cyrus and Jett trading one-liners over one of the record's few live drum tracks with the singer lightly playing with her own self-image ("I've always picked a giver 'cause I've always been the taker"). "Never Be Me" was compared to a ballad from the 1980s and "over a bubbling synth pulse, Cyrus lays out what she will and won't do vis-à-vis new relationships. So, "If you're looking for faithful, that'll never be me" later morphs into the climactic, heart-bursting, "If you think that I'm someone to give up and leave, that'll never be me".

Closing track "Golden G String", classified by many critics as the most complex, according to Cyrus, is "reflective of Donald Trump as president and the men hold all the cards -- and they ain't playing gin, and they determine your fate."{{cite magazine|url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9488741/miley-cyrus-golden-g-string-donald-trump-as-president|title= Miley Cyrus' 'Golden G String' Is 'Reflective of Donald Trump as President'|magazine=Billboard|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=December 21, 2020}} Co-written only with its producer Andrew Wyatt, the track also sees Cyrus reflecting about her mid-2010s antics on lines like "I was tryin' to own my power/Still I'm tryin' to work it out/And at least it gives the paper somethin' they can write about".

Cyrus performed "Angels Like You", "High", "Plastic Hearts" and "Golden G String" for an exclusive Backyard Sessions released on November 27, along her album on Apple Music. She then performed "Plastic Hearts", "Midnight Sky", and "Prisoner" on the first episode of the Amazon Music Holiday Plays digital concert series on December 1, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201123005947/en/Miley-Cyrus-Kicks-Off-"Amazon-Music-Holiday-Plays"-A-Weekly-Concert-Experience-Featuring-Performances-and-Whimsical-Pageantry-December-1-in-her-First-Performance-Since-the-Release-of-New-Album-Plastic-Hearts|title=Miley Cyrus Kicks Off "Amazon Music Holiday Plays": A Weekly Concert Experience Featuring Performances and Whimsical Pageantry, December 1 in her First Performance Since the Release of New Album, Plastic Hearts|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc. Business Wire|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123142249/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201123005947/en/Miley-Cyrus-Kicks-Off-%E2%80%9CAmazon-Music-Holiday-Plays%E2%80%9D-A-Weekly-Concert-Experience-Featuring-Performances-and-Whimsical-Pageantry-December-1-in-her-First-Performance-Since-the-Release-of-New-Album-Plastic-Hearts|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://g1.globo.com/fantastico/noticia/2020/12/13/miley-cyrus-e-dave-grohl-fazem-confissoes-da-quarentena-e-falam-sobre-convites-inesperados.ghtml|title=Miley Cyrus e Dave Grohl fazem confissões da quarentena e falam sobre convites inesperados|work=G1|date=December 13, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2020}} She sang "Golden G String" at NPR's Tiny Desk Concert on January 28, 2021. The singer performed "Angels Like You" for a special Rehearsal - Behind the Scenes YouTube video, of her Pre Super Bowl Show, on February 3, 2021. She gave a performance consisting of the tracks "Plastic Hearts", "Midnight Sky", "Prisoner", "High", "Angels Like You", "Bad Karma" and "Night Crawling" during the TikTok Tailgate pre-game concert before Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida on February 7, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a35437677/miley-cyrus-super-bowl-pre-game-performance/|title=Watch Miley Cyrus Go All Out In Her Super Bowl Pre-Game Performance|last=Weaver|first=Hilary|work=Elle|date=February 7, 2021|accessdate=February 8, 2021}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-billy-idol-1093427/|title=Miley Cyrus Talks Working With Billy Idol on New Song 'Night Crawling'|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 20, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2020|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120192900/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-billy-idol-1093427/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9489150/miley-cyrus-preview-new-album-tiktok-plastic-hearts|title=Here's How You Can Hear Miley Cyrus' New 'Plastic Hearts' Album Early|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=Billboard|date=November 24, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124163356/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9489150/miley-cyrus-preview-new-album-tiktok-plastic-hearts/|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|last=Lipa|first=Dua|user=DUALIPA|number=1329840313985363968|date=November 20, 2020|title=THIS NEWS IS CHERRY SWEET @MileyCyrus WILL BE JOINING ME AT STUDIO 2054!!!!|access-date=November 24, 2020}} The singer performed "Plastic Hearts" at Saturday Night Live on May 8, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/miley-cyrus-to-perform-elon-musk-to-host-snl-on-may-8/|title=Miley Cyrus to Perform, Elon Musk to Host SNL on May 8|date=April 24, 2021|website=Pitchfork}} "Hate Me" and "Gimme What I Want" was performed next on June 10, 2021, on Magnum's 8D Special Performance.{{Cite web|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miley-cyrus-magnum-virtual-concert-miley-in-layers-26428/|title=Miley Cyrus and Magnum to collaborate on virtual concert 'Miley in Layers'|date=June 10, 2021}} Cyrus performed "Plastic Hearts", "Midnight Sky", at Resort Las Vegas Grand Opening on July 4, 2021.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miley-cyrus-to-headline-resorts-world-las-vegas-grand-opening-celebration-at-ayu-dayclub-on-july-4-301303664.html|title=Miley Cyrus To Headline Resorts World Las Vegas Grand Opening Celebration At Ayu Dayclub On July 4|first=Resorts World Las|last=Vegas|website=www.prnewswire.com}} On July 29, she sang "Midnight Sky", "Angels Like You", "WTF Do I Know", "Plastic Hearts" and "Night Crawling" at the Lollapalooza festival.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/miley-cyrus-lollapalooza-setlist-review-1204941/|title=Miley Cyrus Gives Lollapalooza the Wild Party It Craves on Night One|first1=Nina|last1=Corcoran|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 30, 2021}}

Plastic Hearts was made available for pre-order on October 24, 2020, with three songs available to download. These were lead single "Midnight Sky", live covers of "Heart of Glass" (originally released September 29, 2020) and "Zombie". "Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix)", a mash-up of "Midnight Sky" with Stevie Nicks' song "Edge of Seventeen" was released as the fourth pre-release download on November 6, 2020.{{cite web|last=Willman|first=Chris|date=November 5, 2020|title=Miley Cyrus and Stevie Nicks Team Up for 'Edge of Seventeen'/'Midnight Sky' Mashup|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/miley-cyrus-and-stevie-nicks-team-up-for-edge-of-seventeen-midnight-sky-mashup-1234824250/|access-date=November 6, 2020|website=Variety|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106062429/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/miley-cyrus-and-stevie-nicks-team-up-for-edge-of-seventeen-midnight-sky-mashup-1234824250/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.earone.it/news/miley_cyrus_edge_of_midnight_feat_stevie_nicks_midnight_sky_remix_radio_date_09_11_2020_46075026/|title=Miley Cyrus – Edge of Midnight (feat. Stevie Nicks) (Midnight Sky Remix) (Radio Date: 09-11-2020)|last=Pagura|first=Chiara|date=November 9, 2020|website=earone.it|language=it|access-date=November 17, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127194845/https://www.earone.it/news/miley_cyrus_edge_of_midnight_feat_stevie_nicks_midnight_sky_remix_radio_date_09_11_2020_46075026/|url-status=live}}

"Prisoner", featuring Dua Lipa, was released as the album's second single on November 19, 2020.{{Cite tweet|user=DUALIPA|first=Dua|last=Lipa|author-link=Dua Lipa|number=1329142693780451336|title=PRISONER @MileyCyrus 19NOV 4PM LA / 7PM NYC / 12AM LONDON / 11AM SYDNEY / 8AM BEIJING|date=18 November 2020|access-date=18 November 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201118202241/https://twitter.com/DUALIPA/status/1329142693780451336|archive-date=18 November 2020}} The music video was released the same day.{{cite tweet|user=MileyCyrus|number=1328757370726453249|title=SENT A TEASE OF MY UNRELEASED VIDEO WITH @DUALIPA TO SOME REACTORS … PRISONER COMING SOON ☠️|date=November 17, 2020|access-date=November 17, 2020}} A remix of the song was released later on.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4cfRj8Tg4k|title=Miley Cyrus - Prisoner (Jax Jones Remix (Audio)) ft. Dua Lipa|via=www.youtube.com}}

"Angels Like You" was released as the third single from the album.Sources concerning the single release of "Angels Like You":

• {{cite web |title=Miley Cyrus Ruft in Ihrem Video Zu 'Angels Like You' Zum Impfen Auf |trans-title=Miley Cyrus Calls for Vaccination in Her Video for 'Angels Like You' |url=http://www.mtv.de/news/9dav3q/miley-cyrus-ruft-in-ihrem-video-zu-angels-like-you-zum-impfen-auf |publisher=MTV Germany |access-date=April 7, 2021 |language=German |date=March 10, 2021 }}
• {{cite web |last=Lavin |first=Will |title=Watch Miley Sing for Vaccinated Healthcare Workers in 'Angels Like You' Video |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-miley-sing-for-vaccinated-healthcare-workers-in-angels-like-you-video-2897035 |website=NME |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=March 9, 2021 }}
• {{cite web |last=dlf |first=Sonia |title=Miley Cyrus Releases the Hit 'Angels Like You' |url=https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/miley-cyrus/actus/miley-cyrus-sort-le-hit-angels-like-you-71348401 |publisher=NRJ |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=November 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410044647/https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/miley-cyrus/actus/miley-cyrus-sort-le-hit-angels-like-you-71348401 |url-status=dead }} The music video for the song was released on March 8, 2021, was co-directed by Cyrus and Alana O'Herlihy and contains footage taken from singer's Super Bowl pre-game performance on February 7, 2021.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9536526/miley-cyrus-angels-like-you-video-get-covid-vaccine-message/|title=Miley Cyrus Urges Everyone to Get Vaccinated in New 'Angels Like You' Video: 'Each of Us Can Help Stop the Pandemic'|magazine=Billboard|date=March 8, 2021|access-date=March 8, 2021}} Sony Music serviced it to contemporary hit radio stations in Australia on March 12.{{Cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/charts/singles-to-radio/|title=Singles To Radio|website=The Music Network|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312054552/https://themusicnetwork.com/charts/singles-to-radio/|archive-date=March 12, 2021|url-status=dead}} British radio station BBC Radio 1 added "Angels Like You" to rotation on March 20, and the record label sent it to contemporary hit stations in Italy on April 9, 2021.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321190808/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3tqPdBWF9yMbTrfjWvfKV8t/radio-1-playlist|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3tqPdBWF9yMbTrfjWvfKV8t/radio-1-playlist|title=Radio 1 Playlist|publisher=BBC Radio 1|archive-date=March 21, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.earone.it/news/miley_cyrus_angels_like_you_radio_date_09_04_2021_49604790/|title=Miley Cyrus - Angels Like You (Radio Date: 09-04-2021)|last=Sisti|first=Sara|date=April 2, 2021|website=earone.it|language=it}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 7.0/10{{cite web |title=Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus reviews |url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12669/Miley-Cyrus-Plastic-Hearts.aspx |website=AnyDecentMusic? |access-date=November 27, 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203031257/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12669/Miley-Cyrus-Plastic-Hearts.aspx |url-status=live }}

| MC = 75/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/plastic-hearts/miley-cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus|publisher=Metacritic|date=November 27, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127081353/https://www.metacritic.com/music/plastic-hearts/miley-cyrus|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2score = 8/10{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts|title=Miley Cyrus - Plastic Hearts|website=Clash|date=November 27, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127103453/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Exclaim!

| rev3score = 7/10

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/27/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-review|title=Miley Cyrus: Plastic Hearts review – too plastic, but has heart|date=November 27, 2020|website=The Guardian|access-date=November 30, 2020|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130015834/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/nov/27/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-review|url-status=live}}

| rev5 = The Independent

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/miley-cyrus-review-plastic-hearts-album-b1762260.html|title=Miley Cyrus review, Plastic Hearts: A truckload of fun, brimming with Cyrus's reckless soul-bearing charisma|first=Helen|last=Brown|date=November 26, 2020|website=The Independent|access-date=November 27, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127001500/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/miley-cyrus-review-plastic-hearts-album-b1762260.html|url-status=live}}

| rev6 = The Line of Best Fit

| rev6score = 8/10{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review|title=Plastic Hearts casts Miley Cyrus as fiercely independent|website=The Line of Best Fit|access-date=November 27, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127055322/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review|url-status=live}}

| rev7 = MusicOMH

| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts|title=Miley Cyrus – Plastic Hearts | Album Reviews|work=MusicOMH|date=November 27, 2020 |access-date=November 27, 2020|archive-date=February 26, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230226231124/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = NME

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-review-pop-superstar-2824255|title=Miley Cyrus – 'Plastic Hearts' review: pop star reborn as a rock'n'roller|work=NME|date=November 27, 2020|access-date=November 27, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127001702/https://www.nme.com/reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-review-pop-superstar-2824255|url-status=live}}

| rev9 = Pitchfork

| rev9score = 6.4/10{{cite web |last1=D'Souza |first1=Shaad |title=Plastic Hearts |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=2 December 2020 |date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203031302/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts/ |url-status=live }}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review-1096369/|title=Miley Cyrus' Glam Throwback 'Plastic Hearts' Is Her Most Self-Assured Record Yet|first=Claire|last=Shaffer|date=November 30, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 27, 2023|archive-date=February 26, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230226231312/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review-1096369/|url-access=subscription}}

}}

Upon release, the album was met with positive reviews from music critics.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Roisin |date=December 5, 2020 |title=Miley Cyrus says she feels ‘trauma’ from intense scrutiny over her sexuality as a teenager |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/miley-cyrus-sexuality-interview-plastic-hearts-b1766641.html |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=The Independent |quote=Cyrus has received mostly positive reviews for Plastic Hearts.}}{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2021 |title=Miley Cyrus To Return As 'SNL' Musical Guest On May 8 |url=https://www.rttnews.com/3188108/miley-cyrus-to-return-as-snl-musical-guest-on-may-8.aspx |access-date=February 19, 2025 |work=RTTNews |quote=The album ... received positive reviews from music critics.}}{{Cite news |last=Hopper |first=Alex |date=May 31, 2022 |title=Miley Cyrus Net Worth: From Hannah Montana to a Rebel Heart |url=https://americansongwriter.com/miley-cyrus-net-worth-from-hannah-montana-to-a-rebel-heart/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |work=American Songwriter |quote=Plastic Hearts debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and received widespread critical acclaim}} At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 75, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Katie Tymochenko of Exclaim! described Plastic Hearts as "Cyrus' gateway into the world of rock", but stated that "although she's proven herself to be a musical chameleon throughout all aspects of her career, Cyrus still caters to her pop following that's been with her since day one".{{Cite web|title=Miley Cyrus Tries to Rock, but 'Plastic Hearts' Still Holds onto Her Pop Roots|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/miley_cyrus_plastic_hearts_album_review|access-date=November 26, 2020|website=Exclaim!|url-status=live|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127055058/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/miley_cyrus_plastic_hearts_album_review}} El Hunt of NME said that Cyrus was reflecting her Black Mirror character Ashley O in her transition from teen pop star to rock star, and complimented the "glam-rock tendencies" of "Prisoner" and "industrial undercurrent" of "Gimme What I Want". Elly Watson of DIY praised her new musical direction saying "Overall, Miley's seventh era seems to be the one that suits her best".{{cite web|url=https://diymag.com/2020/11/27/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review|title=Miley Cyrus - Plastic Hearts|last=Watson|first=Elly|website=DIY|date=November 27, 2020|access-date=November 28, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127113253/https://diymag.com/2020/11/27/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review|url-status=live}} Bella Fleming of The Line of Best Fit also praised Cyrus' new found independence and passion, saying "with Plastic Hearts, comes a wonderful album about life as a fiercely independent woman. Cyrus has found the perfect balance of pushing her own musical boundaries whilst proving she's one of the strongest and bravest names in the constant celebrity whirlwind."

Reviewing the album for AllMusic, Heather Phares claimed the album to be both "Passionate and self-aware" and that it is "easily the finest incarnation of Cyrus' music yet."{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/plastic-hearts-mw0003442465|title=Plastic Hearts - Miley Cyrus {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|date=November 27, 2020|last=Phares|first=Heather|access-date=December 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207180224/https://www.allmusic.com/album/plastic-hearts-mw0003442465|archive-date=December 7, 2020|url-status=live}} Claire Shaffer of Rolling Stone called the album a "karaoke night out that ends up being something more substantial" and pointed that Cyrus "knows exactly what kind of leather-jacket-and-combat-boot show she's putting on here, and her full embrace of rock at its most bombastic, artificial, hair-metal glory is refreshing to say the least".{{Cite magazine|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|date=2020-11-30|title=Miley Cyrus' Glam Throwback 'Plastic Hearts' Is Her Most Self-Assured Record Yet|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-album-review-1096369/|access-date=2021-02-09|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} In a positive review, Shaad D'Souza from Pitchfork defined Plastic Hearts as a "genuinely pleasing, though sometimes hamfisted record that staves off the awkwardness and missteps that plagued her previous albums" and said the album's greatest success is that "for the first time in a long time, a Miley Cyrus record is music first, headlines second".

{{clear}}

The album was a commercial success, although in the United States, physical copies of Plastic Hearts were unavailable on the release date due to major retailers' stock limitations of physical music in anticipation of Black Friday, on which the release date fell. Cyrus stated that she and her team had not been informed of these expected distribution disruptions when selecting "the suggested [November 27] date", adding that she was "equally/if not more frustrated" than her fans.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-frustrated-that-fans-were-unable-to-get-physical-copies-of-plastic-hearts-2828562|title=Miley Cyrus "frustrated" that fans were unable to get physical copies of 'Plastic Hearts'|last=Lavin|first=Matt|work=NME|date=November 30, 2020|access-date=November 30, 2020|archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130171654/https://www.nme.com/news/music/miley-cyrus-frustrated-that-fans-were-unable-to-get-physical-copies-of-plastic-hearts-2828562|url-status=live}} Nevertheless, the album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 60,000 album-equivalent units, making it her ninth release to chart within the top five and her highest-charting release since Bangerz (2013).{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9495004/bad-bunny-el-ultimo-tour-del-mundo-billboard-200-number-one|title= Bad Bunny's 'El Ultimo Tour del Mundo' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart, Is First All-Spanish No. 1 Album|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=December 6, 2020|access-date=December 7, 2020}} During its second week of release, Plastic Hearts dropped to number 12 with sales of 37,500 copies, and dropped to number 20 in its third week after moving 31,000 units.{{Cite magazine|title=Billboard 200 Chart|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2020-12-26|access-date=2021-02-11|magazine=Billboard}} Additionally, the album became Cyrus' first entry and chart-topper on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart, with seven of its songs entering the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9495363/plastic-hearts-crowns-top-rock-albums-chart-miley-cyrus/|title=Miley Cyrus' 'Plastic Hearts' Crowns Top Rock Albums Chart|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|magazine=Billboard|date=December 7, 2020|access-date=December 7, 2020}} According to weekly chart data from the Rolling Stone Top 200, Plastic Hearts has moved over 406,000 units in the US since release, as of May 2021.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/albums/|title=Top 200 Popular Albums | Rolling Stone Music Charts|magazine=Rolling Stone }}

Plastic Hearts debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart, with sales of 15,318 units.{{cite web|url= https://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/charts-analysis-gary-barlow-bests-steps-in-albums-battle/082123|title=Charts analysis: Gary Barlow bests Steps in albums battle|website=Music Week|date=4 December 2020|access-date=5 December 2020}} In Canada, the album debuted atop the Canadian Albums Chart, making it her fourth number-one and ninth top-ten album on the chart.

With Plastic Hearts, Cyrus was pointed as one of the top artists who led the commercial resurgence of rock music in 2020–2021. American independent newspaper The Diamondback pointed Cyrus alongside Post Malone as the main current artists who "helped to rebrand rock", stating that she "could very well become the female face of a rock revival".{{Cite web|date=2021-02-23|title=Will 2021 bring the resurgence of rock and roll?|url=https://dbknews.com/2021/02/23/rock-and-roll-ozzy-osbourne-post-malone-miley-cyrus-jimi-hendrix/|access-date=2022-02-15|website=The Diamondback|language=en-US}} Consequence Of Sound cited Plastic Hearts as a " big pivot to rock in the pop world" along with Poppy's I Disagree.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-04|title=Hip-Hop and TikTok Are Bringing Pop-Punk Back in a Big Way|url=https://consequence.net/2021/05/pop-punk-back-tiktok-hip-hop/|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Consequence|language=en-US}} In 2020, close to the album's release, British rock magazine Kerrang! published an article called "Is Pop going Metal?" on which they stated: "Miley Cyrus going rock will bring in legions of new fans to our scene".{{Cite web|title=Is Pop Going Metal?|url=https://www.kerrang.com/is-pop-going-metal|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Kerrang!|date=November 17, 2020 |language=en}} One year later, the aforementioned magazine cited Cyrus as one of the names who are "offering hope that rock music is slowly-but-surely returning to the centre of popular culture".{{Cite web|title=Will the success of Olivia Rodrigo's Good 4 U be good for rock music?|url=https://www.kerrang.com/will-the-success-of-good-4-u-be-good-for-rock-music|access-date=2022-02-15|website=Kerrang!|date=June 16, 2021 |language=en}} MTV pointed Plastic Hearts as one of the main responsible for the return of nostalgia in pop culture, adding that with the record Cyrus "completely reinvented herself as a glam-rock icon, diving into the past as she cleared a path forward in the pop-rock sphere".{{Cite web|author=MTV News Staff|title=Miley, Taylor, Dua, And More Proved 2020's Pop Nostalgia Machine Is Potent As Ever|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/3173209/miley-cyrus-mileyworld-plastic-hearts-nostalgia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231171532/https://www.mtv.com/news/3173209/miley-cyrus-mileyworld-plastic-hearts-nostalgia/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 31, 2020|access-date=2022-02-15|website=MTV News|language=en}} Upon its release, The New York Times wrote that with Plastic Hearts "rock music has found its most earnest and high-profile millennial ambassador", adding: "Maybe rock's not dead — it's just in the capable hands of Miley Cyrus".{{Cite news|last=Zoladz|first=Lindsay|date=2020-12-01|title=Miley Cyrus Finally Embraces Her Rock 'n' Roll Heart|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/arts/music/miley-cyrus-plastic-hearts-review.html|access-date=2022-02-15|issn=0362-4331}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = {{Duration|m=38|s=15}}

| title_width = 35%

| writing_width = 35%

| extra_width = 100%

| title1 = WTF Do I Know

| writer1 = {{hlist|Miley Cyrus|Ryan Tedder|Alexandra Tamposi|Andrew Watt|Louis Bell}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length1 = {{Duration|m=2|s=51}}

| title2 = Plastic Hearts

| writer2 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Tedder|Tamposi|Watt|Bell}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length2 = {{Duration|m=3|s=25}}

| title3 = Angels like You

| writer3 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Tedder|Tamposi|Watt|Bell}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length3 = {{Duration|m=3|s=16}}

| title4 = Prisoner

| note4 = featuring Dua Lipa

| writer4 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Lipa|Tamposi|Michael Pollack|Watt|Jordan K. Johnson|Stefan Johnson|Marcus Lomax|Jonathan Bellion}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Watt|The Monsters & Strangerz|Bellion{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length4 = {{Duration|m=2|s=49}}

| title5 = Gimme What I Want

| writer5 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Majid Al-Maskati|Tamposi|Watt|Bell}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length5 = {{Duration|m=2|s=31}}

| title6 = Night Crawling

| note6 = featuring Billy Idol

| writer6 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Idol|Tedder|Pollack|Tamposi|Watt|Nathan Perez|Taylor Hawkins}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Watt|Happy Perez}}

| length6 = {{Duration|m=3|s=09}}

| title7 = Midnight Sky

| writer7 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Ilsey Juber|Bellion|Tamposi|Watt|Bell}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length7 = {{Duration|m=3|s=43}}

| title8 = High

| writer8 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Jennifer Decilveo|Caitlyn Smith}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Mark Ronson|Take a Daytrip|Andrew Wyatt}}

| length8 = {{Duration|m=3|s=16}}

| title9 = Hate Me

| writer9 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Tamposi|Watt|Bell}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length9 = {{Duration|m=2|s=37}}

| title10 = Bad Karma

| note10 = featuring Joan Jett

| writer10 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Juber}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Ronson|Kenny Laguna{{ref|a|[a]}}|Picard Brothers{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length10 = {{Duration|m=3|s=08}}

| title11 = Never Be Me

| writer11 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Juber|Ronson}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Ronson|Brandon Bost{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length11 = {{Duration|m=3|s=35}}

| title12 = Golden G String

| writer12 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Wyatt}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Wyatt|Emile Haynie}}

| length12 = {{Duration|m=3|s=55}}

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital and LP edition bonus tracks

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = {{Duration|m=50|s=18}}

| title_width = 30%

| writing_width = 45%

| extra_width = 25%

| title13 = Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix)

| note13 = featuring Stevie Nicks

| writer13 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Nicks|Tamposi|Juber|Bellion|Watt|Bell}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length13 = {{Duration|m=3|s=40}}

| title14 = Heart of Glass

| note14 = Live from the iHeart Festival

| writer14 = {{hlist|Chris Stein|Debbie Harry}}

| extra14 = Stacy Jones

| length14 = {{Duration|m=3|s=33}}

| title15 = Zombie

| note15 = Live from the NIVA Save Our Stage Festival

| writer15 = Dolores O'Riordan

| extra15 = Jones

| length15 = {{Duration|m=4|s=50}}

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = {{Duration|m=54|s=37}}

| title16 = Who Owns My Heart

| note16 = Live from the iHeart Festival

| writer16 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Antonina Armato|Tim James|Devrim Karaoglu}}

| length16 = {{Duration|m=4|s=16}}

| title_width = 30%

| extra_width =

| writing_width = 70%

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Apple Music Backyard Sessions Edition bonus videos{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/plastic-hearts-apple-music-backyard-sessions-edition/1541088821|title=Plastic Hearts (Apple Music Backyard Sessions Edition)|access-date=April 3, 2023}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = {{Duration|m=64|s=08}}

| title_width = 30%

| writing_width = 45%

| extra_width = 25%

| title16 = High

| note16 = Backyard Sessions

| writer16 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Decilveo|Smith}}

| extra16 = Ronson

| length16 = {{Duration|m=3|s=18}}

| title17 = Plastic Hearts

| note17 = Backyard Sessions

| writer17 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Tedder|Tamposi|Watt|Bell}}

| extra17 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length17 = {{Duration|m=3|s=22}}

| title18 = Golden G String

| note18 = Backyard Sessions

| writer18 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Wyatt}}

| extra18 = Wyatt

| length18 = {{Duration|m=3|s=53}}

| title19 = Angels like You

| note19 = Backyard Sessions

| writer19 = {{hlist|Cyrus|Tedder|Tamposi|Watt|Bell}}

| extra19 = {{hlist|Watt|Bell}}

| length19 = {{Duration|m=3|s=17}}

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} indicates an additional producer

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web |title=Credits / Plastic Hearts/ Miley Cyrus |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/163342283/credits |date=November 27, 2020 |publisher=Tidal |access-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-date=December 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203031257/https://listen.tidal.com/album/163342283/credits |url-status=live }}

Musicians

{{div col}}

• Miley Cyrus – vocals, background vocals
• Andrew Watt – background vocals {{small|(1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)}}, bass guitar {{small|(1–7, 9)}}, drums {{small|(1, 3–5, 7, 9)}}, guitar {{small|(1–7, 9, 15)}}, percussion {{small|(1, 3, 9)}}, keyboards {{small|(2, 4–7)}}, piano {{small|(3, 6, 9)}}, programming {{small|(7)}}
• Louis Bell – keyboards {{small|(1–3, 5, 7, 9)}}, programming {{small|(1, 3, 5, 9)}}, piano {{small|(2)}}
• Chad Smith – drums and percussion {{small|(2)}}
• Will Malone – strings {{small|(3)}}
• Dua Lipa – vocals and background vocals {{small|(4)}}
• Jon Bellion – background vocals {{small|(4)}}
• Michael Pollack – background vocals {{small|(4)}}, keyboards {{small|(6)}}
• The Monsters & Strangerz – background vocals and keyboards {{small|(4)}}
• Majid Jordan – background vocals {{small|(5)}}
• Paul Lamalfa – programming {{small|(5)}}
• Ali Tamposi – background vocals {{small|(6, 7)}}
• Billy Idol – vocals and background vocals {{small|(6)}}
• Taylor Hawkins – drums {{small|(6)}}
• Happy Perez – keyboards and programming {{small|(6)}}
• Ilsey Juber – background vocals {{small|(7)}}
• Jennifer Decilveo – acoustic guitar {{small|(8)}}
• Leo Abrahams – acoustic and electric guitar {{small|(8)}}
• Mark Ronson – keyboards {{small|(8)}}, percussion {{small|(8)}}, programming {{small|(8)}}, synthesizer {{small|(10, 11)}}, guitar {{small|(11)}}
• Take a Daytrip – keyboards and programming {{small|(8)}}
• Riccardo Damian – programming {{small|(8)}}
• Andrew Wyatt – keyboards {{small|(8)}}, strings {{small|(12)}}
• Ben Lester – steel guitar {{small|(8)}}
• Joan Jett – vocals and background vocals {{small|(10)}}
• Homer Steinweiss – drums {{small|(10, 11)}}
• Angel Olsen – guitar {{small|(10)}}
• The Picard Brothers – programming {{small|(10)}}, synthesizer {{small|(10)}}
• John Carroll Kirby – synthesizer {{small|(10, 11)}}
• Brandon Bost – keyboards {{small|(11)}}, programming {{small|(11)}}
• Teo Halm – keyboards {{small|(11)}}
• Justin Cantor – cello {{small|(12)}}
• Emile Haynie – programming {{small|(12)}}
• Mario Gotoh – viola {{small|(12)}}
• Christina Liberis – violin {{small|(12)}}
• Marc Szammer – violin {{small|(12)}}
• Joe Ayoub – bass guitar {{small|(14)}}
• Stacy Jones – drums {{small|(14, 15)}}
• Jamie Arentzen – guitar {{small|(14, 15)}}
• Max Bernstein – guitar {{small|(14)}}
• Mike Schmid – keyboards {{small|(14, 15)}}
• Josh Moreau – bass guitar {{small|(15)}}
• Jaco Caraco – guitar {{small|(15)}}

{{div col end}}

Technical

{{div col}}

• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing engineer {{small|(1–3, 5, 6, 9)}}
• Şerban Ghenea – mixing engineer {{small|(4, 7, 8, 12, 13)}}
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing engineer {{small|(10, 11)}}
• Brandon Bost – mixing engineer {{small|(11)}}, engineer {{small|(10)}}
• Paul David Hager – mixing engineer {{small|(14, 15)}}
• Randy Merrill – mastering engineer {{small|(1–12, 14, 15)}}
• Paul Lamalfa – mastering engineer {{small|(13)}}, engineer {{small|(1–6, 9)}}, recording engineer {{small|(7, 13)}}, vocal engineer {{small|(10)}}
• Geoff Swan – engineer {{small|(1–3, 5, 6, 9)}}
• Louis Bell – engineer {{small|(1–3, 5, 9)}}
• Michael Freeman – engineer {{small|(1–3, 5, 6, 9)}}
• Andrew Dudman – engineer {{small|(3)}}
• Ryan Carline – engineer {{small|(3)}}
• John Hanes – engineer {{small|(4, 7, 12, 13)}}, assistant engineer {{small|(8)}}
• Jacob Munk – engineer {{small|(10–12)}}
• Todd Monfalcone – engineer {{small|(10)}}, assistant engineer {{small|(11)}}
• Andrew Wyatt – engineer {{small|(12)}}, recording engineer {{small|(8)}}
• Riccardo Damian – recording engineer {{small|(8)}}, engineer {{small|(10, 11)}}
• Lizzie Arnold – assistant engineer {{small|(8)}}
• Tileyard – assistant engineer {{small|(8)}}
• Matthew Scatchell – assistant engineer {{small|(10)}}
• Tyler Beans – assistant engineer {{small|(11)}}

{{div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Plastic Hearts}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Gold|certyear=2023|access-date=April 4, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=July 4, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|id=13173|access-date=November 24, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Plastic Hearts|artist=Miley Cyrus|type=album|award=Gold|access-date=June 24, 2024|relyear=2020|certyear=2024}}{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|id=10485|access-date=January 23, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=December 21, 2024|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|title=|artist=Miley Cyrus|award=Gold|type=album|certyear=2021|access-date=November 5, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=December 20, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|award=Gold|artist=|type=album|certyear=2023|title=Plastic Hearts|id=miley-cyrus-feat-stevie-nicks-plastic-hearts|access-date=January 16, 2023|relyear=2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2022|access-date=July 15, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Miley Cyrus|title=Plastic Hearts|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|id=17032-51-2|access-date=September 27, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

• List of 2020 albums
• List of number-one albums of 2020 (Canada)
• List of UK top-ten albums in 2020

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Miley Cyrus}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2020 albums

Category:Albums postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:Albums produced by Andrew Watt (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Andrew Wyatt

Category:Albums produced by Emile Haynie

Category:Albums produced by Happy Perez

Category:Albums produced by Louis Bell

Category:Albums produced by Mark Ronson

Category:Albums produced by Mike Will Made It

Category:Albums produced by Take a Daytrip

Category:Glam rock albums by American artists

Category:Miley Cyrus albums

Category:RCA Records albums

Category:Synth-pop albums by American artists