Miley Cyrus' 'Aunt Dolly' Parton Was The Ultimate Career Role Model For The Pop Star

Growing up in showbiz, Miley Cyrus likely had no shortage of famous peers and industry icons to look up to, but no one has had a greater influence on her life than her beloved godmother, Dolly Parton.

Parton, who sadly passed away in August 2026 at age 80 following a short battle with cancer, was extremely supportive of Cyrus' music career and helped guide her through the ups and downs of the business. In an interview on Apple Music's The Zane Lowe Show, the "Wrecking Ball" singer said Parton helped her navigate how to be her most authentic self as an artist. "There was a time in my life ... so much of my life was about persona," Cyrus said. "And I think a way that I look at that [is] you can have a persona and still be who you are. [That's] because I had Dolly."

Cyrus explained that the country music icon understood better than most how to bridge the gap between being a celebrity and the person behind that public persona. "She's like known for like the faux, the fake, the hair, the makeup, the show of it," she said of Dolly Parton, who wore the best wigs for a genuinely relatable reason until the end. "But there's a part of her that's just what everyone gravitates towards and is how real she is and how authentic she is." Cyrus drew a similar comparison to her own life, noting the stark contrast between her stage persona, which she described as "drag," and the much quieter person she is at home tending to her pet tortoise in the mornings. But make no mistake, both versions are very much her.

For many musicians, performing on stage can come with its challenges. Cyrus shared one such moment when she had an anxiety attack on stage during a performance in Mexico. She was still recovering from the ordeal when she was asked to host and perform at the Grammys and expressed her hesitation to Parton. Naturally, the "9 to 5" singer encouraged Cyrus to get dressed and go.

"She's like, 'Get your hair teased and get a dress that you love,'" Cyrus recalled, via People. "And you're going to step into your Hannah Montana, your Dolly Parton, your RuPaul. You have that part of yourself," said Dolly Parton, whose outfits are as over-the-top as her raucous personality. Deep down, despite her apprehension, the "Flowers" singer wanted to return to the stage, and Parton knew it, too. "Dolly was just always right about stuff," Cyrus said.

The "We Can't Stop" singer said the two also spoke about managing her emotions during her performances, as she often struggles to hold back the tears. Parton had observed her crying while performing "End of the World" at Chateau Marmont. "One of the things we spoke about was, in my performances, I always cry. I can't help it. 'End of the World,' I start crying," she said. "She watched me on Letterman and was like, 'What are you crying about?'" Parton then advised Cyrus to focus less on the sadness in the lyrics and instead think of her music as a distraction and escapism.