I have an angel by my side! Miley Cyrus pays emotional tribute to godmother Dolly Parton

American singer and actress Miley Cyrus has broken her silence following the death of her godmother and country music legend Dolly Parton, sharing an emotional message about the woman who had been part of her life since she was a child.

Cyrus shared the statement on Instagram on Wednesday, August 26, a day after Parton died at the age of 80. It is the first public statement from Cyrus specifically addressing Parton’s death, according to reports from several entertainment outlets covering her tribute.

“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,” Cyrus wrote.

The emotional message offered a glimpse into a relationship far deeper than the usual Hollywood connection between two famous musicians. Parton was Cyrus’ godmother, a role she accepted after becoming close to Miley’s father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.

“I will always love her and want to make her proud,” Cyrus wrote in her tribute.

In her tribute, Cyrus recalled that their relationship remained important until the end, revealing that one of their final conversations centred on music and change.

“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis. 🦋” Cyrus stated.

The singer went on to acknowledge that her grief was shared by millions of people who had grown up with Parton’s music, films, humour and generosity.

“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,” she stated.

Parton had previously explained that she had known Miley since she was a baby. Billy Ray asked her to become Miley’s godmother after they worked together, and although Parton described herself as an “honorary godmother” because there was never a formal ceremony, she treated Cyrus like family.

“I’ve known her since she was a baby,” Parton said in a past interview, explaining how their relationship began. “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.’”

Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus close relationship

Their bond also found its way onto television. Parton appeared several times on Hannah Montana, the Disney Channel series that made Cyrus a global star. She played Aunt Dolly, the godmother of Cyrus’ character, adding a playful piece of real life to the fictional world of the show.

Away from the cameras, however, the two developed a long-running musical partnership. They performed together on several occasions and shared the stage for memorable versions of Parton’s classic song “Jolene”. Cyrus also joined Parton on her Christmas album, while the pair later collaborated on Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” for Parton’s 2023 rock album Rockstar.

Cyrus also co-wrote the song ‘Rainbowland” with Parton for her 2017 album Younger Now, describing the experience as a major learning opportunity. Their relationship was therefore not simply about a famous godmother giving occasional advice. They worked together, performed together and, as Parton often made clear, genuinely cared for each other.

That reference to music was particularly fitting for a relationship that had been built around songs, performances and the shared language of the entertainment world. Parton had spent decades encouraging younger artists, while Cyrus grew from a child star into an established singer in her own right.

Parton also remained openly proud of Cyrus as she grew older and developed her own identity away from Hannah Montana. In past interviews, the country icon described Cyrus as talented, intelligent and headstrong, joking that she did not exactly advise because her goddaughter was more than capable of making her own decisions.

Dolly Parton death

Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Centre in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by loved ones. Her death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who shared the news in a video posted on social media and described her death as a moment of great sadness while celebrating the life she had lived.

Her representatives later confirmed that Parton had died after a brief battle with cancer. The announcement came only days after she had spoken publicly about dealing with health problems and trying to take better care of herself.

Parton had remained active despite her health struggles, although she had postponed some appearances and performances in recent months. Her death therefore came as a major loss to the music and entertainment industry, where she had spent more than six decades building a career that stretched from country music to film, television and philanthropy.

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