Miley Cyrus has spoken out following the death of her godmother Dolly Parton. The country music legend died on Tuesday following a short battle with cancer at the age of 80 and became something of a mentor to Miley throughout her career.
In the days after the news broke, Miley became one of countless names from the showbiz world to pay tribute as she released an emotional statement onto social media.
Emotional Instagram Tribute
Writing on Instagram, she said: "The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts. 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. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis."
"I will always love her and want to make her proud. 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."
A Bond Since Birth
Miley is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, and Dolly had met Miley's father when he released his signature track Achy Breaky Heart in the early 1990s and invited him to be her support act on tour. Later that year, Miley was born and the Cyrus family asked her to become godmother. During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Dolly said: "We just got to be good friends because he’s a Kentucky boy, I’m from Tennessee. I love Miley. She’s my little sweetheart. I’ve known her since before she was born, actually."
When Miley got her big break in 2006 and she was cast in the title role of the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana, in which she starred as a schoolgirl who lived a double life as a world-famous pop star, she immediately requested that scriptwriters create a role for her godmother.
Hannah Montana and Beyond
In total, Dolly made three appearances as Aunt Dolly on the sitcom, and was often there to help Miley navigate tricky situations. The line between fact and fiction was blurred with the sitcom and, by the time she made her final appearance on the show, it was said that Aunt Dolly had in fact had her own long-running showbiz career as she helped Miley adjust to a complete lack of privacy after revealing her identity to the world.
During an emotional chat with Miley as they hosted an NBC New Year's Special together, Dolly said: "From the bottom of my heart, I am proud of you and I’m proud to be your fairy godmother. When you had me in Hannah Montana you helped my career and introduced me to new fans, young fans, of course they are not as young as they used to be!"
Musical Collaborations and Final Moments
The pair worked together several times after Hannah Montana wrapped, notably performing Dolly's tracks such as Jolene together. In 2017, Dolly made a guest appearance on Miley's 2017 studio album where she duetted with her on the track Rainbowland. In March this year, Miley celebrated the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana with her co-stars, Dolly didn't make it to the glitzy Hollywood event, but she did make sure to acknowledge it with a social media post.
She wrote: "Reminiscing on my time as Aunt Dolly. When Hannah Montana came on the air and Miley Cyrus, my little goddaughter, was the star of it, I was so proud of her. I thought she was sensational." At the time, Miley starred in a special reminiscing on the success of the series where she tearfully spoke of losing those she loved.
Wiping away tears, she said: "That's where like...I think the reason I'm so emotional is because as I get older, my dad gets older,, my mom, so many of the people that I have paid the path for me to feel like I have a safety in this lifestyle."
