Miley Cyrus has paid an emotional tribute to Dolly Parton, who passed away at the age of 80 this week. “The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” Cyrus wrote in a statement released Wednesday.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis,” she added.
A Longstanding Bond
The country music legend was Cyrus’s godmother, though their connection began before the pop star was even born. Dolly Parton became close with Billy Ray Cyrus around the time “Achy Breaky Heart” earned him his commercial breakthrough in 1992. He and then-wife Tish Cyrus were also expecting a daughter that same year, and so he asked Parton to become her godmother.
The Tennessee native remained a fixture in Cyrus’s life as she grew up, eventually playing a fictionalized version of herself on Hannah Montana. Across the Disney show’s four seasons, she would go on to make multiple appearances as Aunt Dolly.
Musical Collaborations
Their bond gradually became musical as Cyrus established herself in the music industry under her own name, with “Jolene” becoming a staple of her live act over the years. The two have performed the timeless classic together on multiple occasions as well, most notably on The Voice in 2016 and at the 2019 Grammy Awards. The pair also joined forces to record “Rainbowland” for Cyrus’s sixth studio album, Younger Now.
Perhaps their most memorable celebration of each other came when they co-hosted Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party to usher in 2023. The duo shared the stage for joint renditions of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight,” Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball,” and Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” Sure enough, they concluded the show with “Jolene.”
A Lasting Legacy
Parton’s final solo studio album in 2023 even featured a reimagined version of “Wrecking Ball” with Cyrus, which the latter expressed her excitement about in a social media post. “I’ve grown up covering my Aunt Dolly’s music & it’s an honor to hear her singing one of my songs,” she wrote.
In response, Parton wrote, “We always say such sweet things about one another, but you are especially good to me, Miley! I know sometimes it sounds gushy to people like it is false and not real but it truly is real.”
Parton’s influence on Cyrus was evident as late as this year. While celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana, Cyrus revealed that her godmother had taught her to begin promoting an idea before it even existed so public enthusiasm could help bring it to life.
In conjunction with the celebration, Parton took to Instagram and wrote, “Reminiscing on my time as Aunt Dolly. When Hannah Montana came on the air and [Miley], my little goddaughter, was the star of it, I was so proud of her. I thought she was sensational.”
As the world mourns the loss of Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus’s heartfelt tribute serves as a reminder of the lasting impact the country legend had on her life and career. With a bond that spanned decades, Cyrus and Parton’s relationship will continue to inspire and influence generations to come.
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