Miley Cyrus Jokes About Her 'Avatar' Involvement at Film Awards Gala

The singer received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award for contributing the song 'Dream As One' to the latest 'Avatar' film.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Miley Cyrus was among the honorees at this year's Palm Springs International Film Festival's film awards gala, where she received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award for contributing the song 'Dream As One' to James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash. Cyrus joked onstage that while the Avatar team had worked on the movie for 16 years, she had only been involved for about a month.

Why it matters

Cyrus' involvement in the Avatar franchise highlights her continued efforts at musical reinvention and storytelling, as she works to support major Hollywood productions. Her quip about the length of the Avatar team's work underscores the speed at which modern entertainment is produced and promoted.

The details

Cyrus accepted the honor from Avatar star Jack Champion and sang along as an orchestra played a snippet of 'Dream As One.' In her speech, Cyrus said she was inspired by her own experience rebuilding her Malibu home after it was lost to wildfires in 2018. She co-wrote the song with Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt and Simon Franglen.

  • Miley Cyrus received the award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival's film awards gala on January 3, 2026.
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash, the film Cyrus contributed the song to, is currently playing in theaters.

The players

Miley Cyrus

A 33-year-old singer-songwriter who received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival for contributing the song 'Dream As One' to the film Avatar: Fire and Ash.

James Cameron

The filmmaker behind the Avatar franchise, which Cyrus contributed music to.

Jack Champion

An actor who starred in the Avatar films and presented the award to Cyrus.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They worked on this movie for 16 years. I've been involved for like a month and I get to go to all the same events.”

— Miley Cyrus

“Reinvention is something that I continually strive for in my music. Telling stories with honesty while still creating fantasy and then offering an entertaining escape. So creating alongside artists like Mark and Andrew and Simon and supporting stories like Avatar by my friend James Cameron — it's always cool to say that — it's truly the joy of a lifetime to be a part of this incredible experience and this journey.”

— Miley Cyrus

What’s next

Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest film in the Avatar franchise that features Miley Cyrus' song 'Dream As One,' is currently playing in theaters.

The takeaway

Miley Cyrus' involvement in the Avatar franchise highlights her continued efforts at musical reinvention and storytelling, as she works to support major Hollywood productions. Her quip about the length of the Avatar team's work underscores the speed at which modern entertainment is produced and promoted.