(X) Miley Cyrus Dances with Little People, Defends Stage Antics: ‘It’s What My Heart Is Telling Me To Do’

The pop star performed a four-song teaser set at the iHeartRadio Village ahead of her main stage bow at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena.

Miley Cyrus enlisted the help of several dancing little people to perform at iHeartRadio in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon. Cyrus delivered a four-song set at the Clear Channel festival’s outdoor Village stage, which including the first ever live rendition of her No. 1 single “Wrecking Ball.”

Following crowd chants of “Miley! Miley! Miley!” the singer was introduced by Glee cast member Darren Criss, who noted, “She needs no introduction.”

Cyrus, dressed in white laced-up lingerie and a daisy necklace, emerged onstage alongside several little people, some dressed as mushrooms and flowers, and two dancers wearing a giant rainbow costume. The stage’s drum set was covered with a pH๏τo of Cyrus’ sticking out her tongue.

The singer’s set included “We Can’t Stop,” the first single off her upcoming album Bangerz, as well as 2009 hit “Party In the U.S.A.” After an audience member tossed a purple bra onstage, Cyrus said, “I know it’s H๏τ as f— but thanks so much for being here and especially for making my new single ‘Wrecking Ball’ No. 1 on the Billboard H๏τ 100 this week.”

As she strutted across the stage, Cyrus noted that while the things she’s been doing onstage and in her music videos are “getting me in trouble,” she feels “it’s just me doing what my heart and soul is telling me to do.” She added, “Everything is inspired by the music.”

In honor of this sentiment, Cyrus performed “Look What They’ve Done To My Song,” an acoustic, countrified ballad originally sung by Melanie Safka, seemingly about being scrutinized by the public and media.

As she feigned tears, the musician sang lines like “They’ve picked it like a chicken bone and they think I’m half insane / Look what they’ve done to my brain.”

It’s unconfirmed at this point whether the new track will appear on Bangerz, Cyrus’ fourth studio album, which is due out Oct. 8 via RCA.

Cyrus ended her performance with “Wrecking Ball,” thanking fans their support. “I thought today would be a good time to do this for the first time for all my fans,” Cyrus said.

The singer will also perform this evening at iHeartRadio following an introduction by Britney Spears and Rebel Wilson.

Jason Derulo, Avril Lavigne and The Band Perry also play short sets at this afternoon’s Village event, which took place in a parking lot across the street from the MGM Grand where the main event is being held. The artists appeared on two alternating stages throughout the afternoon, concluding with a performance by The Wanted.