"End of the World" is a song by American singer Miley Cyrus. It was released through Columbia Records on April 3, 2025, as the lead single from her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful (2025). Alec O'Hanley and Molly Rankin of the band Alvvays were among its co-writers.
"End of the World" is a disco-influenced pop, dance, and Europop song that explores themes of living fully amid uncertainty. Characterized by '70s-style piano chords, live strings, and a midtempo beat, the song references cultural icons and locations such as Paul McCartney and Malibu. Accompanied by a visually retro-inspired music video co-directed by Cyrus, the release has received praise for its production style, lyrical tone, and vocal performance.
On March 31, 2025, Cyrus' YouTube channel premiered the visual video for "Prelude". The video was directed by Cyrus alongside Jacob Bixenman and Brendan Walter. That same day, the music video for the title track, "Something Beautiful", was unveiled. In Times Square, New York City, billboards started hinting at the release of another song, "End of the World", while a teaser video was also posted on Cyrus' official website. The track was scheduled to be released as the lead single from the studio album on April 3, 2025.
Slate described the song as "pop-friendly" with a "rollicking midtempo beat, live strings, and '70s-coded piano chords". Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone described the genre as Europop. Elle called the song an "anthemic bop" in which Cyrus sings about "making the most of life". According to Stereogum, "End of the World" is a "disco-inflected anthem about partying during the apocalypse â a classic pop song topic that only gets more relevant". The song's lyrics reference partying like Paul McCartney and driving to Malibu, California for a final time. Cosmopolitan said the song has a "lighthearted production and moving lyrics".
During a preview of the song, Cyrus mentioned that she wrote this song for her mom, Tish Cyrus. In an interview with The New York Times, Cyrus expanded on that by revealing the song had been inspired by her mother going on vacation in Italy for a week without Miley and "it felt like the end of the world to both of us".
The "disco-inspired" music video is directed by Cyrus, Jacob Bixenman, and Brendan Walter. In the video, Cyrus wears a dress with green sequins. Rolling Stone called the video "sexy and retro". Hypebeast described the video as "sultry".
The critic Mary Siroky from Consequence called the song "timely". Paper Shaad D'Souza said, "there is an appealing fullness to the track that suggests a little more intention than we're used to from Cyrus. It's a dance track that's weird and winsome, and Cyrus's voice sounds great on it." Atwood Magazine said the song "feels like an anthem for the present moment with an exhilarating blend of hedonism, nostalgia, and defiance in the face of looming uncertainty". Ilana Kaplan of People said the song "evokes a timeless flair as Cyrus channels ABBA". The New York Times Jon Pareles described "End of the World" as "a luxurious pop extravaganza".