It’s not always easy to bealegendary rockerwho made their mark on music history before the turn of the century. To stay on top, even the most beloved icons have to rally to stay relevant.
The alternative is to sit back and enjoy retirement and watch the industry move on without them.However, these cultural juggernauts are still dedicated to making appearances for crowds of adoring fans and supporting rising stars in the industry.
It seems to be a recent trend to bring rock stars up on stageat festivals and performances that garner thousands of views across social media. However, the practice is likely as old as live performance.
Additionally, many pop stars are not only performing withmusical trailblazers,but collaborating to create new music. These rock stars and pop stars both benefit from a new generation of music lovers engaging with their work.
9Ozzy Osbourne Collaborated With Post Malone, Yungblud, and More
Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness himself, collaborated with fellow artists throughout his entire career. Before the 2000s, Osbourne lent his voice to songs by Lita Ford, Alice Cooper, Motorhead, and so many more. In the years following, his collaborations became sparse.
In 2019, he struck up a surprising partnership with rappers Post Malone and Travis Scott for the song “Take What You Want.” Osbourne’s raspy vocal tone does not feel out of place on this modern pop track,although it is slightly jarring to hear his voice with the modern auto-tune treatment.
Posty then featured on an Ozzy Osbourne song, “It’s A Raid,” released the following year. Despite the collaboration, the pair had not met until they performed the initial song live together months after the song’s release (viaRolling Stone).
Ozzy Osbourne has also collaborated withthe young alternative pop punk artist Yungblud on multiple projects. The duo initially met in 2022 when Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne appeared in the music video for his song “The Funeral.“Yungblud became very close with the family and his lifelong idol as a result.
Yungblud had the honor of singing the timeless classic “Changes” at Black Sabbath’s “Back To The Beginning” concert. The performance has been praised as a highlight of the event, which featured performances from many of the greatest rock stars of the last 50 years.
8Stevie Nicks And Harry Styles Have Shared The Stage Many Times
Stevie Nicks is no stranger to interacting with the pop stars of the 2000s. There is a famous anecdote shared on social media of Nicks tellingRolling Stoneshe once gave Katy Perry advice about managing rivalries, telling her to “get off the internet.”
Nicks thrives on collaboration and community with other artists. It is unsurprising that she has found friends in the young superstars following in her footsteps.
Harry Styles has won favor with the ethereal “Rhiannon” singer as well. The pair have shared the stage many times and treated audiences to covers of “Landslide” and “Stop Draggin' My Heart Around.“Their admiration for each other is clear.
Styles shared a moving and heartfelt speech aboutthe impact of Stevie Nicksat her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2019.Nicks once called him the “son she never had"and the love child of herself and Mick Fleetwood (viaRolling Stone).
7Paul McCartney Has Released A Song With Rihanna And Kanye West
Paul McCartney is no stranger to the 2010s music scene.He released two albums in the 2010s that were hip to the times but also still faithful to McCartney and his established style. His song “FourFiveSeconds” with Rihanna and Kanye West showed that McCartney was still more than capable of making a pop hit.
Paul McCartney had previously collaborated with West, who was working with Rihanna on an albumin 2015 when the song came together.
At this time, West and McCartney had already collaborated on three songs together, but “FourFiveSeconds” was far and away the biggest success that Paul McCartney had had collaborating with the new generation of stars. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
6Brian May Has Shared The Stage With Benson Boone
In the last year, Benson Boone has found himself on some of the world’s largest festival stages with a very short discography to his name. His solution? To play the classics.
With his plunging bodysuit and beardless mustache,it is obvious that he is taking significant inspiration from the incomparable Freddie Mercury. At Coachella, he turned his inspiration into a full-on tribute with his cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The best part of Boone’s performance of Queen’s masterpiece is part of what makes the song so special in the first place: Brian May. May emerged from a riser, his curly hair flowing behind him as he plucked out one of his most famous guitar solos.
Benson Boone felt that the love for Brian May was not substantial enough among the audience, posting on his TikTok “me trying to get the crowd at Coachella to understand what an absolute legend Brian May is and the cultural impact he has on music and the world.”
5Elton John Has Worked With Chappell Roan, Dua Lipa, And More
Elton John has been making incredible collaborations since the early days of his career,“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” being one of his biggest hits. Even though he has retired from the stage, he is still making appearances with pop stars. Many stars have won John’s favor and collaborated with him.
In 2021, Elton John put out a new song with Dua Lipa just one year after her massive hit “Levitating.” More recently, he returned to the stage with the Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan, to sing “Pink Pony Club” together at his charitable Oscars after-party.He has also collaborated with pop powerhouses with decades of experience, like Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.
4David Byrne Has Performed With Olivia Rodrigo And Many Others
David Byrne has collaborated with more pop stars than most probably realize. Beforehe made an unforgettable surprise appearance during Olivia Rodrigo’s headlining Governor’s Ball set, countless artists appeared onEveryone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense.
The star-studded tribute album released in 2024 features covers from a wide range of artists spanning several genres.The result is a dynamic celebration of The Talking Headsand the music that followed in the decades after 1984. Lorde, Miley Cyrus, Kevin Abstract, Girl In Red, Paramore, and many more lent their talents to the album.
3Dave Grohl Has Performed With Billie Eilish and Miley Cyrus
Dave Grohl has not only collaborated with Billie Eilish, he is deeply passionate about her music.The two shared the Kia Forum stage to sing “My Hero” in honor of the late Taylor Hawkins. Grohl has shared that he feels that Billie Eilish is keeping the spirit of rock alive, seeing the effect she has on younger generations, including his own children (viaBillboard).
Grohl has also shared the stage with Miley Cyrus asthey supported an even larger rock and roll veteran, Joan Jett. Their performance of “Crimson And Clover,” alongside Tommy James, is powerful. Joan Jett and Miley Cyrus have collaborated in the studio as well, with Cyrus' song “Bad Karma.”
2Dolly Parton Has Dueted With Sabrina Carpenter
Dolly Parton has been doing breathtaking duets since her time on the Porter Wagnor show.She has carried her penchant for harmonizing with others throughout her entire career. Most recently, she joined pop’s sweetest star, Sabrina Carpenter, on a new recording of her song “Please Please Please.”
Carpenter and Parton turned the ’80s-inspired synth track into an upbeat country song. Carpenter isn’t the only pop icon Dolly Parton collaborated with. Beyoncé and Dolly Parton worked together on the songs “TYRANT” and “Dolly P” for the Grammy award-winning album,Cowboy Carter.
The country darling also loves to collaborate with her family, singing alongsideher goddaughter, Miley Cyrus. The two have shared many stages and featured in each other’s songs. Recently, Dolly Parton covered her goddaughter’s song, “Wrecking Ball” and shared the stage at Cyrus’s New Year’s Eve Party to ring in 2023.
1Metallica Has Performed With Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus seems to performwith all the biggest rock acts.Her deep respect for the genre and raspy vocal tone create unforgettable performances of rock classics. Her collaboration with Metallica, singing “Nothing Else Matters,” on the Howard Stern Show is no exception. She breathes new life into an incredible song that is difficult to improve upon.
Miley Cyrus has performed this song multiple times throughout the last few years. Her most notable version of the song, just after the performance with Metallica, is her cover featuringElton John, Yo Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, and Chad Smithfor the tribute albumThe Metallica Blacklist.
