Miley Cyrus Breaks Her Silence: A Heartfelt Tribute and a Look Back at Her Wonderful Relationship with Dolly Parton

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton were extremely close and made a truly dynamic duo, both in life and on stage. Dolly was, in fact, Miley’s godmother—a role she accepted after Billy Ray Cyrus asked her to be when his daughter was born. At the time, the country singer had a close friendship with the legend, with whom he had worked and toured.

While their bond was first and foremost that of a chosen family, a surprising discovery added a new dimension to their story in 2024: genealogical research revealed that Dolly and Miley were also very distant cousins. A rather incredible coincidence for two women who had already considered themselves true family for decades!

Dolly Parton was also part of the Hannah Montana universe, the hit teen series that catapulted Miley Cyrus to international stardom. In the show, Dolly played Aunt Dolly, Miley Stewart’s godmother—a lovely nod to the real-life bond between the two artists.

Her presence also helped the series appeal to different generations. While younger viewers were captivated by the adventures of Miley Stewart, a teenager leading a double life as a pop star, their parents could enjoy seeing Dolly Parton and Billy Ray Cyrus on screen. The series thus became a true family phenomenon, bringing together multiple generations in front of the TV and creating memories that are still very much alive today.

Dolly Parton’s appearance on Hannah Montana was more than just a cameo. On screen, the singer portrayed a warm, eccentric character who was deeply devoted to Miley Stewart.

Their natural chemistry shone through in their scenes together, making their appearances particularly memorable for fans of the series. With her humor, energy, and flamboyant style, Dolly brought her own unique touch to the world of Hannah Montana.

Years later, these episodes take on an even more touching significance, as they allow us to revisit on screen the beautiful relationship the two artists shared far beyond the set.

During the special celebrating Hannah Montana’s 20th anniversary, Miley Cyrus experienced a particularly touching moment when she rediscovered a letter sent by Dolly Parton in 2021. Alongside her mother, Tish Cyrus, Miley reread the words from her famous godmother, even imitating her instantly recognizable accent.

In the letter, Dolly reminded her, among other things, just how proud she was of her and how happy she was to be her “Aunt Dolly,” both in Hannah Montana and in real life. It was a tender memory that once again demonstrated the depth of their relationship. Interestingly, Dolly even indirectly contributed to the creation of this special: Miley revealed that she was inspired by a piece of advice from her godmother to get the project off the ground even before Disney had officially approved it! 

Dolly Parton’s influence on Miley Cyrus has also been evident in her music. In particular, the young singer reimagined one of her godmother’s greatest classics, “Jolene,” as part of her Backyard Sessions.

With a vintage microphone in hand and accompanied by her musicians, Miley delivered a stripped-down yet powerful version of this iconic Dolly song. The cover has since become one of Miley’s most memorable performances and has racked up hundreds of millions of views.

Over the years, she has performed “Jolene” on several other occasions, sometimes even alongside Dolly herself. It’s a wonderful way to keep her godmother’s musical legacy alive through her own voice.

Just like her godmother, Miley Cyrus has always had a soft spot for bold, confident looks. Throughout her career, the singer has never hesitated to play with fashion, push boundaries, and turn each of her appearances into a true spectacle. This way of expressing herself is clearly reminiscent of Dolly Parton, who has been known for decades for her flamboyant outfits, sequins, voluminous hairstyles, and unapologetic style.

When they shared the stage, the two artists formed a duo that was as dazzling musically as it was visually. With their bright colors, lace, feathers, and spectacular silhouettes, Miley and Dolly definitely shared the same taste for extravagance. It’s yet another beautiful similarity between the young pop star and the woman who has played such an important role in her life.

In 2019, Miley Cyrus was on hand to celebrate her godmother, Dolly Parton, when Parton was named Person of the Year by MusiCares. The event, held in Los Angeles on the sidelines of the Grammy Awards, paid tribute to the country legend’s illustrious career as well as her philanthropic work.

For the occasion, Miley took the stage to participate in the musical tribute to Dolly. She performed “Islands in the Stream” alongside Shawn Mendes and Mark Ronson, a song made famous by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.

It was a particularly meaningful moment for Miley, who was celebrating much more than just an artist she admired that evening. She was paying tribute to a woman who had been a part of her life since childhood and had become a true family figure to her.

The day Dolly Parton’s death was announced, August 25, already held special significance for Miley Cyrus. That date marks her father’s birthday—Billy Ray Cyrus was born on August 25, 1961—but it is also closely tied to an important moment in her own career.

In fact, it was on August 25, 2023, that Miley chose to release Used to Be Young, a project in which she takes a particularly personal look at her past and her evolution. When announcing its release, the singer explained that she had deliberately chosen this date because it was significant to her, both personally and professionally.

A date already steeped in memories that, since this heartbreaking news, now holds an even more special meaning for Miley.

While Dolly Parton has repeatedly expressed her immense support and love for Miley Cyrus, it is now Miley’s turn to pay a deeply moving tribute to the woman who held such an important place in her life.

On August 26, 2026, for the first time since the announcement of her godmother’s passing, Miley spoke out to share some particularly poignant words.

“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, and between our hearts. What I KNOW is that Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then move forward and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and transformation. I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family, and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together, and we will see her in all the most beautiful things.”

Translation: “The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly goes beyond what feels right for me to share. Our most sacred moments were private and will remain so—behind the scenes, beneath the glamour, and within our hearts. What I KNOW is that Dolly would want me to feel all of this, to write a song about it, and then to keep moving forward and stay strong. I have an angel by my side. I’ve always had one. One of our last conversations was about music and transformation. I will always love her, and I will always want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, for her family and friends, who will miss her deeply. We’re going through this loss together, and we’ll see her in all the most beautiful things.”

A heart-wrenching tribute that speaks to the depth of the bond that united them.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton’s family, her loved ones, her friends, and all those deeply affected by her passing.

The loss of such an extraordinary woman undoubtedly leaves a huge void, both in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her personally and in those of the millions of fans who have followed her over the decades.

Dolly leaves behind not only an exceptional artistic legacy but also the memory of a generous, radiant, and deeply loved woman. Our thoughts are with Miley and all those going through this painful time. One thing is certain: Dolly’s music, memories, and immense legacy will keep her alive for a long time to come.