Miley Cyrus Reveals the Life Lessons Godmother Dolly Parton Taught Her Before Her Death
Miley Cyrus is opening up about the lasting lessons she learned from her beloved godmother, Dolly Parton, as she continues to mourn the country music legend’s death.
Cyrus, 33, recently reflected on her close relationship with Parton, who died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 following a brief battle with cancer. The “Flowers” singer said Parton’s guidance shaped not only her career but also the way she learned to balance her public persona with her private life.
One of Parton’s biggest lessons was that it was possible to create an extravagant stage persona without losing sight of the person underneath it. Cyrus said watching Parton embrace the glamour of big hair, makeup and costumes while remaining authentic helped her understand her own experience growing up as Hannah Montana.
“We hit on it with Hannah, so much of my life was about persona,” Cyrus explained during a September 17 interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. She credited Parton with showing her that a performer could have a larger-than-life image while still knowing exactly who they were away from the spotlight.
Parton also had strong opinions about Cyrus becoming emotional onstage. Cyrus admitted that she frequently cries while performing, something her godmother encouraged her to control.
After seeing Cyrus become emotional during a performance, Parton reminded her that audiences often turn to music as an escape. Her message was essentially that the performer needed to hold it together and allow the audience to experience the emotion. Cyrus didn't always follow that advice, but she said Parton accepted that emotional vulnerability was simply part of who she was.
Parton also gave Cyrus some unconventional career advice: sometimes announce what you want to happen before it actually exists.
Cyrus previously revealed that Parton taught her that if she truly wanted a project to happen, she could start promoting the idea before everything was officially in place. Cyrus put that lesson into action when discussing a potential 20th anniversary celebration for “Hannah Montana,” helping generate momentum around the idea.
Perhaps one of Parton’s simplest lessons was also one of the most meaningful. Cyrus recalled Parton encouraging her to remain an individual even within their incredibly close relationship—advice that helped Cyrus understand that two people don't have to be alike to deeply love and respect one another.
Following Parton’s death, Cyrus shared an emotional tribute to the woman she affectionately called “Aunt Dolly.” She said some of their most meaningful memories would remain private and revealed that one of their final conversations centered on music and personal transformation.
Cyrus said she believes Parton would want her to experience the grief, turn those emotions into music and then continue moving forward.
“I have an angel by my side,” Cyrus wrote following Parton’s death. “I always have.”
For Cyrus, Parton was far more than a legendary entertainer or famous godmother. She was a mentor who helped teach her how to navigate fame, protect her identity, trust her instincts and remain authentic—even when standing beneath the brightest lights in the world.
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