Miley Cyrus' theory about August 25 appears to have taken another emotional turn following the death of her godmother Dolly Parton on the same date. The country music legend died aged 80 on August 25 after a brief battle with cancer, her family and representatives confirmed. She died surrounded by loved ones at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, US.
A close bond since childhood
Dolly had a particularly close relationship with Miley throughout her childhood and adulthood. After becoming friends with Miley's father, Billy Ray Cyrus, in the early 1990s, Dolly became Miley's godmother. The pair remained close over the years, with Dolly also appearing alongside Miley in Hannah Montana, where she played Aunt Dolly. Their relationship extended beyond the Disney show, with the pair performing together and collaborating musically.
Following Dolly's death, Miley paid tribute to her godmother on social media, writing: "I can't believe we just lost the purest soul. Rest in Glory, Dolly. My heart aches."
But for Miley, the timing of Dolly's death is particularly poignant because August 25 has held a strange significance throughout her own life and career.
Why August 25 matters to Miley
When promoting her 2023 song Used to Be Young, Miley explained why she had deliberately chosen August 25 as its release date. She said: "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."
There are several major moments in Miley's life that have reportedly fallen on the date. On August 25, 2010, Miley and her then-husband Liam Hemsworth reportedly split for the first time. The couple went on to reconcile several times before eventually separating for good in August 2019. Their divorce was finalised in January 2020.
Three years later, on August 25, 2013, Miley released Wrecking Ball alongside its iconic music video, which saw her famously swing nude on a wrecking ball. Later that same day, she took to the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards, where she performed with Robin Thicke and twerked during the controversial routine.
Reflecting on past scrutiny
The performance sparked huge backlash, with critics arguing the routine was inappropriate given Miley's young fanbase. Looking back on the intense scrutiny she faced, Miley said: "Now I'm an adult, I realise how harshly I was judged."
The song Used to Be Young was intended to reflect on that period of her life and her journey into adulthood. Its lyrics include: "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."
Now, August 25 has taken on another deeply personal meaning for Miley, as it marks the day she lost one of the most important people in her life – Dolly Parton.
