Miley Cyrus gave an upbeat tribute to George Clooney during an American Film Institute gala.
The gala was to celebrate Clooney’s Lifetime Achievement Award – the highest honor an actor can achieve in a career in film. Previous honorees have included big names like Tom Hanks in 2002 and Clint Eastwood in 1996.
2018 was Clooney’s year to accept the prestigious award – and it was well deserved. As one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, he is also a writer, producer, and director. Some notable films he directed are Leatherheads, The Ides of March, and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.
Congratulations to George Clooney – America's leading man – on his #AFILife Achievement Award! #GeorgeClooneyAFI pic.twitter.com/sQv5zZgef4
— AFI (@AmericanFilm) June 22, 2018
Still, many fans remember him as the actor they first fell in love with on screen. From the 1997 film Batman & Robin to Ocean’s Eleven – Clooney has graced the silver screen for close to 30 years. To this day, one of his most memorable movie moments was as Ulysses Everett McGill in Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?
McGill is a convict searching for a lost treasure who becomes accidentally famous when he sings “Man of Constant Sorrow” on the radio with his friends – calling themselves The Soggy Bottom Boys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZtgZ5fHOuU
When friend Miley Cyrus was deciding what song to sing for Clooney, it was a no-brainer. Brought together by Bill Murray, the two became close thanks to his Very Murray Christmas Netflix special and Murray himself introduced Cyrus’ act at the gala.
Cyrus is well-versed in country and bluegrass music so her voice was the perfect fit to sing the Soggy Bottom Boys’ rendition of “Man of Constant Sorrow.” As Bill Murray introduced her as “America’s Sweetheart,” Cyrus joked back saying “He’s the only one who thinks I’m sweet.”
Cyrus then breaks into song, accompanied by fiddles and banjos to complete the whole theatrical production of her performance. Clooney’s expression during the entire event is priceless as the two exchange glances and jokes between the stage and the audience.
You can watch her entertaining performance below.