American singer Miley Cyrus stated on Wednesday that she was heartbroken following the death of her godmother, country music artist Dolly Parton. Parton died of cancer at the age of 80 on Tuesday, according to her family. Cyrus, who frequently referred to Parton as her aunt, wrote on the social media platform X that their most sacred moments were private and would remain between them.
The relationship between the two performers began before Cyrus' birth. Parton became Cyrus' godmother in 1992 after Cyrus' father, Billy Ray Cyrus, asked her to take the role while they were touring together. Parton, who had no children of her own, became a maternal figure and mentor to Cyrus, helping her transition from a child actor on the Disney Channel to a Grammy-winning music artist.
Parton appeared as "Aunt Dolly" in three episodes of the television series "Hannah Montana" between 2006 and 2010. The pair also collaborated on several musical performances, including a 2019 duet of Parton's song "Jolene" at the Grammy Awards and a 2022 New Year's Eve special where they performed a medley of their hits. Cyrus noted that Parton would want her to remain strong and continue writing music following this loss.
The impact on Cyrus is personal and professional, as she loses a mentor who guided her career for over 30 years. Cyrus told W Magazine in 2024 that Parton had been "like a mother" to her, highlighting the personal nature of their bond through private communications, such as faxes sent on Mother's Day. The public will notice the absence of Parton in future collaborative performances, such as the New Year’s Eve specials and award show tributes that had become a hallmark of their relationship.
Beyond the immediate music industry, the report indicates Parton leaves behind a legacy of literacy, advocacy, and charitable giving, though the specific financial scale of these programs is not detailed in the source. Following the announcement of her death on Tuesday, fans and the entertainment industry have moved into a period of mourning. No specific dates for funeral services or public memorials were reported.
What happens next: Future updates regarding memorial services or specific details about Parton’s estate and charitable foundations have not yet been released. Cyrus indicated she plans to process the loss through songwriting, as she believes Parton would have encouraged her to do. Fans continue to gather at tributes globally as of Wednesday.