She can't stop and she won't stop.

Over the last two years, Miley Cyrus has been a prolific presence in Hollywood: making a trippy cameo in Ethan Coen's "Drive-Away Dolls," performing the end-credits ballad "Beautiful That Way" for Pamela Anderson drama "The Last Showgirl," and releasing her visual album, "Something Beautiful," in theaters.

Now, the three-time Grammy winner is taking her unmistakable voice to the planet of Pandora with "Dream As One," her Golden Globe-nominated original song for "Avatar: Fire and Ash" (in theaters Dec. 19). Cyrus, 33, volunteered herself to write a tune for director James Cameron after running into him at Disney's D23 fan event last year, where they were both honored as Disney Legends.

USA TODAY caught up with the former "Hannah Montana" star-turned-pop shapeshifter, who opened up about her recent engagement to musician Maxx Morando and how godmother Dolly Parton influenced her dynamic "Avatar" anthem.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

Question: When I spoke to James Cameron, he mentioned that you have a very personal story behind this song. What did you tap into while writing it?

Miley Cyrus: The title alone, “Fire and Ash”: losing my home in the Woolsey fire (in 2018), rebuilding again, and starting from the ground up. Something that's beautiful about rebuilding is brick by brick, you get to make conscious choices of what you want to replenish, and what can just fade into the ashes and be kept as a memory. So that was really inspiring for me. The goal for me personally as a songwriter is to medicate with music, whether it's a sick culture or something else. Right now, there's a need for hope and courage to never give up, which is a big theme of “Avatar.”

James Cameron's films have a rich history of music with Celine Dion and “Titanic.” Was there a moment early in the process when you had to set aside the weight of expectations and tell yourself, “OK, here’s what I can bring that’s uniquely me?”

Let me tell you: I did not forget about Celine for a moment (laughs). I was thinking, “This is drama. This is my Celine.” I definitely did not put her on a shelf! I'm completely gagged for her. I'm so into the idea of having a song that's embedded into a film that's iconic that way. It reminds me, too, of my godmother’s song, “I Will Always Love You,” that’s now so synonymous with “The Bodyguard.” I was super-inspired by the idea of doing something this dramatique that I couldn't or wouldn't normally do on an album. Even though I'm myself, I wanted to lean into the characterization you can do when you're part of a film.

I try to not lean into expectations, but I also do like to set challenges for myself and thresholds to meet. I wanted to surrender and soften, and become very vulnerable and tender through it because that's something that can be lacked in these huge, epic films that are filled with so much action. I wanted to do something that I thought no one else would, which is my favorite thing.

Your fiancé collaborated closely with you on “Something Beautiful.” Did Maxx offer any inspiration or feedback when it came to this song?

He loves fantasy and so do I. Something I loved about this ‒ and I've said it about our relationship ‒ is that I'm interested in a fantasy, not a fairy tale. I really leaned into that in the songwriting, and it's a theme in a lot of my music: being a self-savior. Not waiting for someone to save you, but saving yourself and stepping up. The women in "Avatar" end up saving the day a lot of the time. So I was always bouncing ideas off him of, "How do I make this feel grounded and lyrically like a diary entry, but still have it feel fueled by fantasy?"

You've surrounded yourself so much with film these last couple of years. Have you felt the desire to take on another major acting role?

I love the idea of being back in front of the camera. I’m so grateful that I get to be as particular as I am now, and I only really want to do things that feel like a full-body “yes.” (Making music for) “Avatar” felt that way. I love everyone involved, and same thing for “Drive-Away Dolls” and working with Pamela. It always starts with me loving someone or wanting to support them and what their vision is. It would be the same way for acting; something that I couldn’t say “no” to.

Aside from “Avatar,” what have been your favorite films or performances this year?

My favorite performance has been Jesse Plemons in “Bugonia.” I love Jesse. He's become a friend of mine, and so watching him flourish is really fun for me.

Congratulations on your engagement and happy belated birthday as well. What are you most looking forward to about 33, creatively or personally?

Spiritually, 33 is a very important number. It’s always been a year of deep knowing. I feel like I spent so much time exploring who I could potentially be, and now I'm starting to land in who I think I am. And, as I do, that could change (laughs). But I love how calm 33 feels. I feel very confident, and everything in my life – personally, professionally, all that I am and all that I hope to be – feels very aligned and feels very possible. I’m excited about the opportunities I’ve planted the seeds for over the last couple of years. They’re starting to sprout now and I’m excited to see all of that fully flourish. It’s a good feeling.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miley Cyrus reveals how her fiancé helped with 'tender' 'Avatar' song

Reporting by Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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