Numerous legendary American comedians, including Whoopi Goldberg, Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, and, most recently, Kevin Hart, have been honored with the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor since its inception in 1998. The 2016 ceremony featured actor Bill Murray, known for his roles in “Ghostbusters” and “Groundhog Day.” No one could have foreseen the extraordinary level of Miley Cyrus’s performance when she began the festivities by singing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
Miley’s rendition begins similarly to Sinatra’s 1969 hit: with a grand piano as a backdrop, the song’s waltz-like tempo adorned with the vocal runs of a pop icon, and witty asides inserted between lines. As Miley took the stage, Bill Murray, who was seated in the audience, watched her first lyric with tears in his eyes and gave her a standing ovation.