Miley Cyrus has paid tribute to her godmother, Dolly Parton, sharing a rare detail about one of their final conversations.
She remembered the country music legend in an emotional Instagram post, referring to her as “Aunt Dolly”.
MILEY CYRUS REMEMBERS ‘AUNT DOLLY’
Parton died on Tuesday, 25 August, at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” she wrote.
She said their most sacred moments happened in private and would remain that way, but shared one detail about their final conversations.
“One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis,” she said.
Miley said she believed Parton would want her to feel the loss, write a song about it and find the strength to carry on.
“I have an angel by my side. I always have,” she wrote.
‘I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HER’
Miley closed her tribute with a poignant nod to Parton and one of the songs that defined her career.
“I will always love her and want to make her proud,” she said.
She added that her heart broke for Parton’s family, friends and fans mourning around the world.
“We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things,” she wrote.
A BOND THAT SPANNED GENERATIONS
Parton’s relationship with the Cyrus family began long before Miley became a star.
Billy Ray Cyrus developed a close friendship with Parton after launching his own country music career. That friendship eventually saw Parton become Miley’s honorary godmother.
Following Parton’s death, Billy Ray also reflected on their decades-long bond.
He said he had “so many moments and memories with Dolly” that he struggled to know where to begin, recalling how he had grown up watching her before eventually calling her a friend.
Billy Ray also revealed that Parton had recently sent him a message telling him she loved him “with her whole heart”.
“I will always love her in the same way,” he wrote.
Miley’s relationship with Parton later developed both privately and professionally.
Parton appeared as Aunt Dolly in Hannah Montana, while the pair performed together several times over the years. They also recorded a version of Miley’s Wrecking Ball for Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar.
While Miley chose to keep their closest memories private, her tribute offered a glimpse of the relationship behind their public appearances – and the influence Parton continued to have on her until the end.