What relationship do Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton share? A look at their story before 'Plastic Hearts' release
Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus are queens of the music industry. While Parton is an undisputed country music legend and all-around icon, Cyrus is a pop superstar. But the 'Jolene' songstress is much more than a beloved celebrity to Cyrus, as she is essentially a member of her family. Fans of Disney's 'Hannah Montana' remember Parton's recurring guest role as Miley Stewart's Aunt Dolly.
As fans of both Parton and Cyrus know, the country legend's character on the show isn't far removed from the role she plays in Cyrus' actual life. Parton is the 'Wrecking Ball' singer's godmother.
In a 2019 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Cyrus said, "She doesn't really let me call her a godmother. She likes fairy godmother much better." Here's an inside look at Parton and Cyrus' relationship.
Before Parton became Miley Cyrus' godmother, she acted as a mentor to the pop star's famous father, Billy Ray Cyrus. In a 2018 interview with Dan Rather, Billy Ray recalled how Parton helped his country music career saying, "When 'Achy Breaky Heart' came out, Dolly put me on her tour as an opening act." However, Cyrus revealed that his early professional relationship with Parton was plagued with rumors that the two were romantically involved.
"Some of the headlines in the tabloids had Dolly and me, pictures of us and saying something was going on," he told Rather. The singer said he was "so upset' about the tabloid headlines and rumors that he went to Parton to apologize for it. Parton replied saying, "Honey, that s**t sells records," and laughed.
After Cyrus left 'Hannah Montana', she became the subject of countless headlines and controversial moments like twerking on Robin Thicke at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. When Parton, in an interview with Us Weekly, was asked if she was shocked by her goddaughter's transformation into a "sexpot," she replied, "Well yeah, but in a good way. I had to laugh, I thought 'Wow,' but I realized she had to do it, she had to go to that extreme, so bless her heart."
When Cyrus was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2014, Parton penned a dedication to the star, writing, "If I didn't know how smart and talented Miley is, I might worry about her, but I've watched her grow up. So I don't. She was very proud of the work she did as Hannah Montana, but people were gonna leave her there forever. And she was just smotherin' and chokin' in it. So she felt she had to do something completely drastic. And she did."
Parton also gave Cyrus advice about relationships and advice during her turbulent on-again-off-again relationship with Liam Hemsworth. When Cyrus asked if she had marriage advice for her goddaughter, Parton told Digital Spy, "I just say to be respectful and mindful of the other person's feelings and try to compromise when you need to. I would say be cautious and be careful. And be loving and kind!"
At one point, Parton even said that Cyrus reminds her of Elvis Presley saying, "She's like a little Elvis. 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. She writes songs like she's 40 years old! She's really deep."
In a 2017 Cosmopolitan interview, Parton revealed that revealed the best part about having Parton as a godmother was that she loves "watching the way treats people with love and respect," and reminds her to "never let success change your heart."
Parton also told Extra that "Miley is so talented. She has a good head on her shoulders. I think she does some stuff just for shock value, and just because she's young she can afford that. I will never, ever bad-mouth Miley, no matter what she does. I just always hope she comes out the other end alright."
Miley will release her seventh studio 'Plastic Hearts' album on November 27.