Miley Cyrus Pays Tribute to Godmother Dolly Parton: “I Have an Angel by My Side”

Miley Cyrus has paid tribute to her godmother, country music icon Dolly Parton, who passed away yesterday at the age of 80. In a heartfelt message on her social media, Cyrus expressed her emotional struggle in sharing the loss of her "Aunt Dolly." She stated, "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." Cyrus recalled their last conversation about music and transformation, expressing her love for Parton and her desire to make her proud. Parton and Cyrus first met when Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, asked Parton to be his daughter’s godmother in 1992. Parton later recounted the story, saying, "He said 'We’re having a girl, and you’ve got to be her godmother.'

I said 'Well I’d be honored.'" The two worked together in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, where Parton played Cyrus’ "Aunt Dolly." Cyrus covered Parton’s "Jolene" for her "Backyard Sessions" series in 2012, and they both appeared on each other’s records in recent years. Parton’s final studio album, Rockstar, included Cyrus’ rendition of her own song "Wrecking Ball." Their last collaborative performance was at the December 2022 New Year’s Eve Party.