Miley Cyrus Reflects on Final Guidance from Godmother Dolly Parton
Miley Cyrus shares the poignant final advice she received from Dolly Parton regarding fame, performance, and maintaining authenticity in the public eye.
POLICY WIRE — Nashville, USA — Miley Cyrus has opened up about the lasting impact of her final conversations with her godmother, the late country music legend Dolly Parton. The singer noted that Parton’s wisdom helped her navigate the complexities of maintaining a larger-than-life public image while staying grounded in her true self.
During a discussion with Apple Music host Zane Lowe, Cyrus reflected on her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades. She shared that she had intended to send a vinyl copy of the record to Parton, continuing a long-standing tradition between the two artists.
Parton passed away in Nashville on August 25 at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. In the wake of her death, Cyrus expressed that the loss of her godmother was profound, noting that their most sacred and meaningful moments were kept private, away from the stage and the public spotlight.
Cyrus recalled how Parton’s perspective on performance helped her reconcile her own history with the Hannah Montana persona. She described her public image as a form of drag, noting that the version of herself presented to the world is distinct from the person who feeds her tortoise each morning, though both identities coexist.
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The conversation also touched on Cyrus’s tendency to weep during live performances. When Parton watched Cyrus cry during a 2024 appearance on David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, she offered a blunt critique, asking why the singer was crying.
Cyrus explained that Parton encouraged her to maintain professionalism, emphasizing that music serves as a form of escapism for the audience. While Cyrus defended her emotional vulnerability as an essential part of her identity, she acknowledged that Parton’s guidance was consistently accurate throughout her career.
The two artists shared a deep professional and personal bond, with Parton appearing as Aunt Dolly on Hannah Montana and collaborating on tracks like Rainbowland and a reimagined version of Wrecking Ball. Cyrus noted that she often relied on Parton for direction, viewing her as a stabilizing force who paved the way for her own musical journey.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
