LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 04: Miley Cyrus performs onstage during the 66th GRAMMY Awards at ... [+]
Miley Cyrus ruled charts all around the world throughout 2023. Her single “Flowers” resuscitated her career in a major way and became the biggest win of her lifetime. As that track finally begins to fade on rankings like the Hot 100 in the U.S., she may have just released a cut that will take its place–at least for a time.
The pop superstar is featured on Beyoncé’s new album Cowboy Carter. The two collaborated on the tune “II Most Wanted,” which has quickly become a standout from the highly-anticipated full-length.
“II Most Wanted” sits at No. 2 on the U.S. iTunes chart at the time of writing. The song is the highest-rising from Cowboy Carter on the ranking of the bestselling cuts in America on what is usually considered one of the most popular platforms for purchasing individual tracks in the nation.
Beyoncé fills 29 spaces on the iTunes chart with songs from Cowboy Carter, but at present, none of them are competing with “II Most Wanted.” The Grammy champion does claim several top 10s, but none of her other album cuts–nor any other new release from any musician–is outperforming this just-dropped collaboration.
The fact that Cyrus and Beyoncé are on the same song would likely be enough to make anything they produced a hit. The sheer star power on one track will make it a Hot 100 win, but the fact that it’s catchy and already earning praise from both critics and fans online suggests that “II Most Wanted” won’t be a quick, minor success, but perhaps a proper smash.
It’s almost a certainty that Cowboy Carter will debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 next week, and many of the tunes featured on the setlist–if not all 27 of them–could reach the Hot 100. “II Most Wanted” is destined to open inside the top 40, but a top 10 launch could be possible. These are very early days for the project and its songs, but if one is headed for a lofty start, it could be this duet.
Cyrus last debuted a new song on the Hot 100 only a few weeks ago. She and Pharrell teamed up for "Doctor (Work It Out)," which disappointed slightly when it stalled at No. 74 on the ranking and then fell away the following frame. “II Most Wanted” will be a bigger hit, and it will bring Cyrus back to the higher reaches of the ranking.
