To the world, Dolly Parton was a country music legend, songwriter, actress and philanthropist. To Miley Cyrus, she was simply “Dolly”—her godmother, mentor and, in many ways, a second mother.
Parton, who died at 80 on August 25, had known Cyrus since the singer was born in 1992. Miley’s father, country star Billy Ray Cyrus, was already close friends with Parton when he asked her to become his daughter’s godmother.
Parton immediately agreed.
“I’ve known her since she was a baby,” Parton said during a 2009 interview with Good Morning America. “Her father’s a friend of mine. And when she was born, he said, ‘You just have to be her godmother,’ and I said, ‘I accept.’”
There was never a formal ceremony, but Parton said the relationship was no less meaningful.
“We never did do a big ceremony, but I’m so proud of her, love her and she’s just like one of my own,” she said.
A friendship with Billy Ray Cyrus became a lifelong family bond
Parton’s connection to Miley began with her friendship with Billy Ray.
The two met in 1992, when Billy Ray was touring with Parton after the success of his breakout country hit “Achy Breaky Heart.”
“We just got to be good friends,” Parton explained during a 2024 appearance on The Howard Stern Show. “He’s a Kentucky boy. I’m from Tennessee.”
That friendship eventually turned into something much deeper.
Parton watched Miley grow up and remained a trusted presence throughout the younger singer’s transformation from child performer to international star.
Over the years, Parton repeatedly spoke about how proud she was of her goddaughter.
When asked whether Miley sought her advice about the entertainment business, Parton said Miley would often run things by her.
“She’s very successful. Miley is very smart. She’s very intuitive about the business,” Parton said. “I just think Miley is a spectacular human being and an amazing talent.”
Their professional relationship grew alongside their personal one
Miley and Parton did far more than share a family connection.
They became frequent musical collaborators, performing together on some of the biggest stages and working on projects that introduced each artist to another generation of fans.
One of their early major performances together came in 2010 during the Hallmark special Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood, when they performed Parton’s classic “Jolene.”
They reunited for “The Voice” in 2016 and performed the song again at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Miley had also put her own spin on “Jolene” during a 2012 Backyard Sessions performance.
Their collaborations continued into the next decade.
Parton appeared on Miley’s 2017 album Younger Now for the song “Rainbowland,” while Miley was featured on Parton’s 2023 rock album Rockstar.
For the album, Parton recorded a version of Miley’s 2013 hit “Wrecking Ball.”
“I just felt honored,” Parton said of working with Miley. “I love that song, and I love Miley.”
Their emotional New Year’s Eve performance
The pair continued performing together well into Miley’s adult career.
In 2023, they co-hosted NBC’s Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party, appearing together in matching leopard-print outfits.
Parton later described the experience as the “thrill of [her] life.”
The performances were emotional for both women.
Parton recalled that Miley cried during rehearsals as they sang together.
“The fact that we were singing so well together stirred up our emotions very much,” Parton said in a 2023 interview with Business Insider.
The emotion intensified when they performed “I Will Always Love You,” one of Parton’s most famous compositions.
“She would just have these tears coming down and it was so emotional,” Parton recalled.
