Miley Cyrus Mourns Godmother Dolly Parton: 'The Purest Soul'

She told Parton to rest in glory and said her heart ached before returning with another message reflecting on a legacy she believed would continue across generations.

Their relationship began long before Cyrus became famous herself.

Parton became Cyrus' honorary godmother through her friendship with Billy Ray Cyrus, which developed after his breakthrough with "Achy Breaky Heart" in the early 1990s.

When Cyrus was born, that professional friendship developed into something closer to family.

Parton later explained that the godmother title was honorary rather than the result of a formal ceremony, but the distinction never appeared to matter much to either of them.

She told "Good Morning America" in 2009 that she had known Cyrus "since she was a baby" and regarded her "just like one of my own."

Millions of younger fans eventually encountered that relationship through "Hannah Montana."

Parton appeared on the Disney Channel series as Aunt Dolly beginning in 2006, effectively playing an exaggerated version of the role she already occupied in Cyrus' real life.

Cyrus has since shared memories of working with Parton during those years, including arriving at one table read as a teenager dressed casually in pajamas with acne cream on her face, only to encounter the famously glamorous Parton in a pink silk robe.

Their connection soon became musical as well.

In 2010, a 17-year-old Cyrus joined Parton for "Jolene" during Dollywood's 25th anniversary celebration.

Cyrus would go on to make "Jolene" a recurring part of her own performances, helping introduce one of Parton's signature compositions to another generation of pop listeners.

The pair performed the song together again on "The Voice" in 2016.

Three years later, Cyrus joined Parton at the 2019 Grammy Awards during a tribute performance honoring the country legend.

Their musical relationship continued into more recent years.

Cyrus was among the artists featured on a new version of Parton's "Light of a Clear Blue Morning," alongside Reba McEntire, Lainey Wilson and Queen Latifah.

That collaboration added another chapter to a musical relationship that had followed Cyrus from childhood television through her evolution into an adult recording artist.

For Cyrus, however, Parton was never simply a famous collaborator.

Long before the duets, television appearances and awards-show performances, she was Aunt Dolly — the honorary godmother who had been present since Cyrus was a baby.

That history gave Cyrus' description of Parton as "the purest soul" a meaning that extended far beyond a conventional celebrity tribute.