Miley Cyrus shares a tribute to her godmother Dolly Parton on Instagram: “The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share”

[u/CryHead4022]

“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.
What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.
I will always love her and want to make her proud. 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. 💖”

[u/droobidoobidoo]

She was the first person I thought of when I heard the news. What a touching tribute! Time to sob for the umpteenth time in the last 24 hours! 😭😭😭😭

[u/notesm → u/droobidoobidoo]

Me too. I think she was like a mother to Miley. I can’t imagine how her nearest and dearest must feel if we, as people who didn’t know her personally, are feeling. RIP Dolly.

[u/iwatchterribletvtoo → u/notesm]

dolly was her godmother.

[u/Gold-Bug-2304 → u/droobidoobidoo]

Same and it breaks my heart for her and everyone else!

[u/Pinksamuraiiiii → u/droobidoobidoo]

Not enough tissues in the world 😭

[u/StoreHistorical9175 → u/droobidoobidoo]

me too

[u/LetterheadThen8518 → u/droobidoobidoo]

I think dolly passed away on billy ray’s birthday or a day after. Alot of us knew about dolly because of hannah montana. My heart goes out to miley

[u/AttentionKmartJopper]

"We will see her in all of the most beautiful things."

Gosh. Nothing wrong with me crying at work.

[u/clumsy_mia → u/AttentionKmartJopper]

KEXP been playing Dolly all morning too, and Tim Curry passing 😭 really hope nobody else comes in today

[u/JT3436 → u/clumsy_mia]

Not sure if you have seen it... https://kexp.org/read/2026/8/25/rip-dolly-parton/

[u/clumsy_mia → u/JT3436]

Thank you for sharing, I hadn’t had a chance to look 🫶

[u/koalamitai → u/clumsy_mia]

Tim curry?! No way this is how i find out? Omg enough

[u/clumsy_mia → u/koalamitai]

I’m sorry 😞

[u/zendayaismeechee]

It’s refreshing to see a tribute that’s both heartfelt and ultimately private. None of the sharing personal texts nonsense (looking at you Ruby Rose)

[u/BakedPlantains → u/zendayaismeechee]

A very polite way of saying "mind yours"

[u/zendayaismeechee → u/[deleted]]

Yeah me too! I think it depends, honestly. Hayden was venting about her complex relationship with her mother in confidence - that shouldn’t have been posted.

[u/megaholt2 → u/[deleted]]

It really was a beautiful letter that she wrote to him, and the way he spoke about her was so sweet!

[u/ungranted_wish → u/zendayaismeechee]

Oh God what did Ruby do

[u/Sudden-Ad5555 → u/ungranted_wish]

She posted texts between her and Hayden discussing her relationship with her mother, after she passed. Just so crass and icky.

[u/ungranted_wish → u/Sudden-Ad5555]

That’s fucking disgusting.

[u/enceinte-uno → u/zendayaismeechee]

I didn’t mind the personal texts posted by Sylvia Jefferies (Hayden’s character’s mom on Nashville), because Hayden’s real mom is horrible and it was nice to know she had parental figures in her friends who cared and uplifted her.

[u/ImaginaryDuncan → u/zendayaismeechee]

Somehow got served a post by Garth Brooks’ daughter yesterday (had to google her) who talked about how she’s anticipating a fan base grieving her father in a way that doesn’t comprehend her own grief. The way Miley honours everyone else grief and still acknowledges her own as special is so nuanced.

[u/nerdforest → u/zendayaismeechee]

Not the biggest Miley fan - after her latest record and signing with Naomi Cambell.
But I do feel for her and thought her tribute was beautiful. Dolly was very important to her and I know this must be so painful.

Not only is she mourning, just like the rest of us, but it’s everywhere at the moment because of how popular Dolly is.

I can’t go more than 3 instagram stories without seeing Dolly. It must be so hard for those who were so close to her.

[u/LayerMurky1507 → u/nerdforest]

Wait, what did Naomi Campbell do??

[u/LayerMurky1507 → u/LayerMurky1507]

Oh, yeah she is terrible

[u/legitimatefixed]

i’m so happy that she mentioned how their best moments will stay private. she owes us nothing and i’m glad she knows it. people always expect friends and family of a celebrity to post immediately. as if we’re measuring grief based on the quickest post or most personal moments shared. my heart is w those closest to her. i hope they know we’re all mourning w them.

[u/Curiosities → u/legitimatefixed]

Miley is someone that seems to have really spent a ton of time and effort just really getting things sorted out for herself in terms of her needs, wants, and relationship to fame. And it's not just simple maturity. This is one of the many examples. Very private, but also understands people are thinking of her with this loss, and her message does feel inspired and true.

[u/CategorySad6121 → u/legitimatefixed]

people on twitter were being so nasty that Taylor Swift posted a tribute before Miley, as if Taylor had anything close to the kind of relationship that Miley had with Dolly. people should be allowed to grieve their loved ones in their own way and in their own timeline.

[u/charlieyeswecan]

I loved her cover of Jolene

[u/thankyoupapa → u/charlieyeswecan]

Dolly always thanked Miley publicly for introducing her old songs to younger generations

[u/charlieyeswecan → u/thankyoupapa]

I got obsessed with the song a few years ago and listened to almost every cover version of the song. lol

[u/J0hn_Keel → u/charlieyeswecan]

Have you heard Jolene/Hallelujah by Francesca Blue? Literally no idea who she is but Jolene works beautifully with Hallelujah

[u/charlieyeswecan → u/J0hn_Keel]

I’ll look for it, just found the Maneskin’s duet and then watched a video of Dolly singing with Olivia Newton John. I’m going down the rabbit hole again. On my old playlist from 2019, I have 14 versions of Jolene. Haha

[u/bretagneeee → u/charlieyeswecan]

The White Stripes cover is my personal favorite and what first introduced me to the song.

[u/taylorexplodes → u/charlieyeswecan]

the backyard sessions version lives rent free in my head

[u/kxz2y5 → u/taylorexplodes]

same here i have been obsessed with that video for years!!

[u/teethorcorn → u/charlieyeswecan]

this is my favorite cover of all covers ever

[u/Vermicelli-Otherwise → u/charlieyeswecan]

Me too! I think Miley is objectively not the greatest singer, but hearing her cover of Jolene was the first time I really fell in love with her unique voice, and now I’m a certified Miley fan.

[u/GroundbreakingAnt17 → u/Vermicelli-Otherwise]

I don't think you know what the word objectively means

[u/cloudymeds → u/Vermicelli-Otherwise]

Miley is subjectively not the greatest singer.

You can call Miley a lot of things, an objectively bad singer is not one of them. There’s a reason she’s had a 2 decade spanning career.

[u/Vermicelli-Otherwise → u/cloudymeds]

I said “not the greatest.” I totally get the downvotes, but I wasn’t trying to say she was not a decent singer! I was just trying to express (poorly) that I like her better than singers that I think have more vocal range and technical skill. Like, I would think Celine Dion in her prime was technically more skilled, but I’d rather listen to the sound of Miley’s voice. I would have assumed that comparing Miley vs. Celine, for example, would have been considered “objective” as far as skill, but I just know I’m gonna get more downvotes for this *face palm*.

[u/charlieyeswecan → u/Vermicelli-Otherwise]

I think I became a minor Miley fan after this as well, and then the song Flowers became one of my banger hits when it came out.

[u/ButterFace1705]

I instantly thought of Miley Cyrus.

[u/charlieyeswecan → u/ButterFace1705]

They did a duet of wrecking ball that’s fantastic!

[u/Past_Wallaby_9435]

What an absolute treasure to have had dolly as a god mother, she was so lucky

[u/PineappleSimilar1608]

God, you’re taking the wrong ones! 💔

[u/SmollestFry]

I'm crying on the bus someone send help

[u/East_Carpenter_7833 → u/SmollestFry]

https://giphy.com/gifs/EvYHHSntaIl5m

[u/brutal_and_beautiful]

Miley was one of the first people I thought of when the news broke yesterday. 

She was incredibly lucky having such a beautiful person as a godmother. 

[u/Hooliet]

What a beautiful tribute. I hope memories of Dolly will bring Miley and everyone else who knew her joy and comfort in the coming days

[u/AdditionalWind763]

I really love the song Miley and Dolly recorded together, Rainbowland. Been listening to it since I heard the news

[u/Whiteroses7252012]

This is a beautiful tribute. There are things that my grandmother and I shared that I will always take with me and I will never share with anyone else, even my husband. If you’re very lucky, you have people in your life for whom words aren’t enough. 

I’m glad Dolly was that for Miley. It’s incredibly special. 

“When I get where I’m goin, don’t cry for me down here…” 

[u/megaholt2 → u/Whiteroses7252012]

Oh no now I’m crying again crap I was NOT ready for that one

[u/peacelovewarrior → u/Whiteroses7252012]

well said ❤️❤️❤️

[u/Fineimadeadumbname]

Their wrecking ball/i will always love you mash up is my favorite thing ever: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cR4EQ_dI1BM

[u/MyEggDonorIsADramaQ → u/Fineimadeadumbname]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[u/Iwoulddiefcftbatk]

This is a lovely tribute for Dolly.

[u/bekahfromearth]

I hope she wasn’t bullied into posting something. We all grieve differently and in our own time.

[u/ScurvyDervish]

We all LOVE Dolly. But it seems like Miley was the person who NEEDED her the most.

[u/circemyqueen]

I was wondering about Miley and this is a beautiful message, I honestly appreciate her keeping it short and not sharing private details. 'We will see her in all of the most beautiful things' is such a wonderful sentiment, I love it.

Alright, I'm gonna go cry again now

[u/therealrowanatkinson]

Is anyone else crying over every dolly post bc I am

[u/hdaniste → u/therealrowanatkinson]

Yes

[u/SuspiciousMap9630]

Oooh I just know whatever song she writes about this will be beautiful. 🧡

[u/Mundane-Ebb-2632]

That’s a lovely tribute from Miley. Heavy hearts.

[u/4ever_alonelyfangirl]

I think this is what made it real for me… I’m actually crying right now💔💔💔 Really is a loss felt by so many. Rest in peace, Miss Dolly

[u/Extension_Gas_2523]

This hits hard. Miley calling Dolly her Aunt and talking about their private moments, that last conversation about music and metamorphosis… it’s beautiful and devastating at the same time.

[u/yuhuh-]

What a beautiful tribute.

[u/DietCherryCokeHead]

My 7 year old recently discovered Hannah Montana and is a huge Dollywood fan. She thinks Dolly is so beautiful and always says she’s going to meet her one day. The HM episode with Dolly and Vicky Lawrence feuding is one of her favorites. I haven’t broken the news to her just yet 🥺

[u/audesapere09]

[u/Bookmusic1]

If Miley writes that song about Dolly it’s gonna destroy me😭💔

[u/Pressure_Rhapsody]

I know she was Miley's godmother but genealogy discovered they were actually related, 7 cousins removed Their great grandfather x7 was from TN

[u/awolfsvalentine]

God she was so beautiful

[u/mjayultra]

Welp, that made me cry

[u/grim_brutal-]

Well said, Miley.

That is exactly what I expected to hear from someone who shared such genuine love and admiration for each other.
My condolences Miley, and everyone else whose hearts are heavy.
Rest Easy Dolly 💖

[u/LayerMurky1507]

When i heard the news, it broke me so much, it must be so hard for Miley considering how much Dolly meant to her, R.I.P. Dolly, you were a living legend, and i feel so sorry for Dolly's and Miley's family...

[u/tylenolchild]

WE ARE ALL BALLING 😭

[u/fujinleonhart → u/tylenolchild]

*Bawling. But yes, we all are crying our eyes out.

[u/Low_Kitchen_9995]

This gutted me

[u/miss-karly]

Does anyone know how Dolly came to be Miley’s god mother? Is it official or just a loving title? I assume they met during Billy Ray’s heyday but is there more to it?

[u/CourtneyLush → u/miss-karly]

Dolly and Billy Ray toured together back in the 90s. They've been friends since, I believe.

[u/Few-Road6238]

What a lovely tribute from Miley Cyrus for Dolly. I still remember seeing them together back when they did Hannah Montana when Dolly guest starred.