Pop star Miley Cyrus has publicly mourned the loss of her godmother, country music icon Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday at the age of 80, according to reporting by Yahoo. Cyrus described their relationship as deeply private and enduring, and said she will honour Parton through music and memory.
‘Private moments’ and a public bond
In an Instagram statement posted on Wednesday and reported by Yahoo, Cyrus reflected on the intimacy of her bond with Parton, calling their shared experiences “our most sacred moments” and saying those memories would remain “behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.” The singer wrote that Parton would want her to process the grief by channel‑ling it into creativity: “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.”
Cyrus also said she would always love Parton and hoped to make her proud, adding that she felt the loss keenly on behalf of the wider world, Parton’s family and friends.
Longstanding friendship that crossed generations
The relationship between Parton and the Cyrus family stretches back decades. Parton told Howard Stern in 2023 that she became close to Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, when he was promoting his 1992 single “Achy Breaky Heart.” According to the Yahoo report, that friendship led Billy Ray to ask Parton to be Miley’s godmother — a role Parton accepted and nurtured over the years.
Parton’s connection to younger audiences was also reinforced by her appearances on the Disney series Hannah Montana, in which she played “Aunt Dolly” across three episodes. In a 2020 interview with Vanity Fair, cited by Yahoo, Parton said working on the show felt like being a “proud mama” and credited the series with introducing her to a new generation of fans.
Artistic collaboration and mutual support
Over the years, Parton and Cyrus supported one another creatively. The Yahoo report notes that they collaborated and that their conversations often touched on music and transformation — a subject Cyrus referenced as one of their final shared topics.
- Parton was godmother to Miley Cyrus and remained close to the family.
- She appeared as “Aunt Dolly” on Hannah Montana, fostering cross‑generational recognition.
- The pair frequently discussed music and artistic change, according to Cyrus’s statement.
Below is a brief timeline drawn from the relationships and public notes referenced in the Yahoo reporting:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Billy Ray Cyrus tours with “Achy Breaky Heart”; friendship with Parton begins (reported in later interviews) |
| 2006–2010s | Parton appears on Hannah Montana as “Aunt Dolly”; maintains public and private support for Miley |
| 2023 | Parton speaks with Howard Stern about her relationship with the Cyrus family |
| 2026 | Parton dies at age 80; Miley Cyrus issues a public tribute (reported 26 August 2026) |
What this means for fans and the industry
Parton’s passing marks the end of a career that reached across country music, film and television, while her personal mentorship of younger performers highlights her influence beyond chart success. Cyrus’s public grieving and promise to write and perform in Parton’s memory will likely prompt renewed interest in Parton’s catalogue and her collaborations with contemporary artists.
For South African fans and musicians, the moment is a reminder of how intergenerational mentorship shapes popular music globally. Cyrus’s tribute, reported by Yahoo, underlines the private ways artists sustain one another’s creativity even as their lives play out in the public eye.
The Yahoo report provided the details of Cyrus’s statement and the history between the families. Further developments from the Parton estate or official representatives were not included in that report at the time of publication.
