Miley Cyrus is mourning the loss of her godmother, Dolly Parton, following the country legend’s death on August 25, 2026, at age 80. In an emotional statement, Cyrus reflected on their private bond, Dolly’s influence on her life and the final conversation they shared about music and “metamorphosis.”
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” Cyrus wrote. “Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.”
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Miley Cyrus continued by recalling the advice Dolly Parton would want her to follow during the grieving process. “What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong,” she wrote. “I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.”
The relationship between Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton began before Cyrus was born. In the early 1990s, Billy Ray Cyrus toured as Parton’s opening act while promoting his breakout hit “Achy Breaky Heart,” and the two became close friends. Billy Ray subsequently asked Parton to become godmother to his daughter, a role she embraced despite sometimes describing herself as Miley’s “fairy godmother.”
Parton had known Miley since before her November 23, 1992, birth and became a recurring presence throughout her childhood and career. She later appeared as “Aunt Dolly” on Hannah Montana, bringing their real-life relationship into the Disney Channel series while helping introduce her music to a younger generation.
Their connection continued well beyond the show. Cyrus has repeatedly described Parton as a maternal figure, saying in a 2024 interview that “Dolly’s been like a mother to me.” Parton also supported Cyrus through major career transitions, offering advice about music, business and taking creative risks.
Music became one of the strongest links between them. Parton appeared on Cyrus’ “Rainbowland” from the 2017 album Younger Now, while the pair famously performed “Jolene” together. Cyrus later contributed to Parton’s 2023 rock album Rockstar, where Parton recorded her interpretation of Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.”
Their family connection became even more literal in September 2024, when Ancestry.com revealed that Cyrus and Parton were seventh cousins once removed through a common ancestor, John Brickey, born in Virginia in 1740. The discovery offered a remarkable footnote to a relationship that had always felt familial to both women.
Cyrus closed her tribute by turning toward the future while acknowledging the scale of her loss. “I will always love her and want to make her proud,” she wrote. “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 of the most beautiful things.”
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