Country music legend Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 80, following a brief battle with cancer. The date has struck a particular chord with her goddaughter Miley Cyrus, for whom August 25 has long been a significant day.
Miley, 33, was left devastated by the news, posting on Instagram that the "feeling of losing [her] Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share." Their bond was cemented when Parton became Miley's godmother in 1992.
A date of personal milestones
"I will always love her and want to make her proud," Miley 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."
August 25 has always been a significant date in Miley's life. The singer herself mentioned the importance of the day while promoting her song "Used to Be Young."
"I decided to release Used To Be Young on August 25 because this particular date historically has been important to me personally and in my career," she explained.
Career turning points and personal connections
Despite referring to it as "important," it has not always been a day for positivity. In 2010, news of her split from Liam Hemsworth broke on that day after they had been dating for a year. They later reunited, got engaged, called off their relationship again, and eventually married in a low-key private ceremony on December 23, 2018, at their home in Franklin, Tennessee. Ultimately, it was not meant to be, and they split one last time in 2019. Liam later filed for divorce on August 25.
There is also a family connection to the date, with Miley's father, country star Billy Ray Cyrus, born on August 25 in 1961.
Career-wise, the date marks a huge turning point. Miley released her single "Wrecking Ball" on August 25, 2013. It became her first number one song on the Billboard Hot 100 after initially debuting at number 50. The video was considered controversial at the time, as she ditched her family-friendly Disney persona to straddle a wrecking ball in white underwear and Timberlands.
A legacy of impact
The same day the song was released, Miley performed alongside Robin Thicke at the MTV VMAs in a highly-charged performance, singing a medley of their songs "We Can't Stop" and "Blurred Lines." It was widely panned by critics, branded "crass" and "reminiscent of a bad acid trip" by The Hollywood Reporter.
"Not only was culture changed, but my life and career were changed forever," Miley said of the performance during a 2018 interview for Wonderland. "It inspired me to use my platform for something much bigger. If the world is going to focus on me and what I am doing, then what I am doing should be impactful and it should be great."
Miley went on to found The Happy Hippie Foundation in 2014, which focuses on helping vulnerable youths, including those in the LGBTQ+ community who are homeless. She also founded The Miley Cyrus Foundation that same year, has donated $500,000 (£368,175) to the Foundation for AIDS Research, and has supported causes including Musicians on Call and the Libby Ross Foundation.
Her song released on August 25, 2023, addresses that time in her life, with lyrics including: "I know I used to be crazy / I know I used to be fun / You say I used to be wild / I say I used to be young."
Miley was incredibly close with her godmother throughout the years, with Parton even starring in Hannah Montana as 'Aunt Dolly'. She said of Miley at the time: "I'm so proud of her, love her and she's just like one of my own."
