Miley Cyrus Breaks Her Silence After Dolly Parton’s Death, Revealing the Emotional Final Conversation They Shared
Miley Cyrus has spoken publicly about the death of her beloved godmother, Dolly Parton, sharing a deeply personal detail about one of their final conversations.
In an emotional Instagram tribute, Cyrus reflected on the loss of Parton, who died at 80 on Aug. 25.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” Cyrus wrote, describing the private moments they shared away from the spotlight.
“Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” she continued.
Cyrus revealed that one of their final conversations centered on music and metamorphosis, a detail that now carries an especially poignant meaning following Parton’s death.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong,” Cyrus wrote. “I have an angel by my side. I always have.”
She added that she would continue trying to make her godmother proud, while expressing sympathy for Parton’s family, friends and millions of fans around the world.
The relationship between Cyrus and Parton stretched back to before Miley was even born. During a 1992 tour, Billy Ray Cyrus asked Parton to become Miley’s godmother. Parton later recalled accepting the role when Billy Ray told her, “You just have to be her godmother.”
Over the years, their bond became one of the most recognizable relationships in country and pop music.
Parton appeared alongside Cyrus on Hannah Montana, performed with her on several occasions and famously joined her goddaughter for a rendition of “Jolene” at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Cyrus previously described Parton as one of the most beloved people in the world, praising the extraordinary influence she had on generations of artists.
Parton also remained close to the wider Cyrus family. Billy Ray shared his own tribute following her death, remembering the years they spent together and revealing that Parton had recently sent him a message telling him she loved him “with her whole heart.”
Parton’s death was confirmed Aug. 25 by Bryan Seaver, her nephew and longtime head of security. In a statement shared online, Seaver described announcing her death as an experience filled with both pride and profound sadness, while emphasizing the doors she had opened for generations of musicians and dreamers.
For Cyrus, however, Parton’s legacy is also intensely personal.
Their relationship was not simply that of two famous musicians. Parton was the godmother who had been part of Cyrus’ life from the very beginning — a mentor, collaborator and family figure whose influence Miley says will continue to guide her.
And perhaps the most heartbreaking detail in Cyrus’ tribute is that their final conversation was about the very thing that connected them throughout their lives: music.
Cyrus now says she will carry that conversation with her — and, as Parton would have wanted, turn the grief into something creative and keep moving forward.
