By ANDREW COURT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ, US ASSISTANT SHOWBIZ EDITOR
Published: 17:43 BST, 26 August 2026 | Updated: 20:23 BST, 26 August 2026
Miley Cyrus has penned a heartbreaking tribute to her godmother Dolly Parton following the country music icon's death on Tuesday at age 80.
On Wednesday morning, the 33-year-old took to Instagram to share her pain with her 205 million followers, writing: '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.'
Despite keeping some of their most personal moments to herself, she continued the heartfelt caption by saying Parton's presence will always be felt.
Cyrus continued: '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,' she added. '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.'
Parton was bonded with Cyrus for her entire life, as the country music legend previously opened up about how she became the Flowers hitmaker's godmother.
Miley Cyrus with her godmother Dolly Parton on stage in 2019
'The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,' Cyrus wrote
'I've known her since she was a baby,' she told GMA in 2009. 'Her father's a friend of mine, and when she was born, he said, 'You just have to be her godmother,' and I said, 'I accept.'
'We never did do a big ceremony, but I'm so proud of her, love her. And she's just like one of my own.'
The godmother had complete confidence in Cyrus's future from the start and even did a guest role on the pop star's Disney Channel series Hannah Montana back in 2006.
'The kids love her because she's Hannah Montana, but what people don't realize about her is she is such a fantastic singer and songwriter,' Parton told AOL Music back in 2008, per Biography.
'She writes songs like she's 40 years old! She's really deep.'
