Miley Cyrus has broken her silence following the death of her godmother Dolly Parton, sharing an emotional tribute that offered a rare glimpse into one of their final private conversations.

Parton died on Aug. 25 at the age of 80, leaving behind one of the most influential legacies in country music. For Cyrus, however, the loss was far more personal.

“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” the 33-year-old singer wrote on Instagram Wednesday.

Cyrus explained that many of the moments she treasured most with Parton happened away from cameras and would remain private.

“Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” she wrote.

Their final conversations centered on music and change

While Cyrus chose not to reveal the most intimate details of their relationship, she did share something meaningful about one of the last conversations she had with Parton.

“One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis,” Cyrus wrote, adding a butterfly emoji.

It was a fitting subject for two performers whose careers had continually evolved while remaining deeply connected to their roots.

Cyrus also reflected on how she believes Parton would want her to respond to the grief.

“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong,” she said.

“I have an angel by my side. I always have.”

Cyrus ended her tribute with a promise that captured the bond they had shared for more than three decades.

“I will always love her and want to make her proud,” she wrote.

“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.”

Dolly became Miley’s godmother in 1992

Parton’s connection with the Cyrus family began through Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus.

The country singer toured with Parton in 1992, the same year Miley was born. During that period, Billy Ray asked Parton to become his daughter’s godmother.

Parton later recalled the moment during a 2009 appearance on Good Morning America.

“When she was born, he said, ‘You just have to be her godmother,’ and I said, ‘I accept,’” Parton remembered.

That relationship eventually became much more than an honorary title.

Parton remained an important presence throughout Miley’s childhood and career, providing encouragement, advice and occasional collaborations as Cyrus grew from a child actor into an international recording star.

Their bond played out both privately and publicly

Parton appeared alongside Cyrus on Hannah Montana, playing a fictionalized version of herself as Miley Stewart’s “Aunt Dolly.”

The casting reflected their real-life closeness and introduced their relationship to a generation of younger viewers.

Over the years, the pair continued performing together.

They sang “Jolene” at the 2019 Grammy Awards and later shared the stage during Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party in 2023.

Their chemistry was easy to recognize: Parton brought decades of experience and humor, while Cyrus frequently spoke about the enormous influence her godmother had on her life.

In a 2021 conversation with Seth Meyers, Cyrus described Parton as “the most loved person on the planet.”

“She’s left this big mark on the entire world, that all of us are just trying to fill her crystallized shoes, which is never going to happen,” Cyrus said at the time.

Billy Ray Cyrus also shared a deeply personal tribute

Miley’s father was among the many artists who remembered Parton following her death.

“I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start,” Billy Ray wrote.

“Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TV’s, right in our living rooms.”

Billy Ray also revisited a story from the 1992 tour, when tabloid reports falsely suggested that he and Parton were having an affair.

At the time, he was dating Tish Cyrus, who would later become his wife.

Billy Ray recalled going into Parton’s dressing room to apologize for the headlines.

Parton responded exactly as he might have expected.

“Honey, this trash sells records!” she told him, according to his tribute.

The moment captured the humor and perspective that friends and fellow performers frequently associated with Parton.

Billy Ray also revealed that Parton had recently sent him a message expressing her love for him.

“I will always love her in the same way … with my whole heart … and I always will,” he wrote.

Dolly Parton’s death was announced by her nephew

Parton’s death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who had served as her head of security for more than two decades.

In a video message shared on social media, Seaver said he had long known that one day he would be responsible for announcing his aunt’s death.

“As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,” he said.

“It is an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly.”

Seaver also reflected on the enormous number of people Parton had inspired throughout her life.

He said she “opened doors for generations of singers, songwriters, musicians and dreamers” and made people believe that extraordinary things were possible.

“She never saw a door she couldn’t open,” he said, “and the doors she opened made and changed history.”

Parton had been dealing with health problems

Parton’s death followed a period of health challenges that had increasingly affected her public schedule.

She told PEOPLE on Aug. 21 that she had been dealing with health problems she had previously neglected while caring for her longtime husband, Carl Dean.

Dean died in March 2025.

“I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl,” Parton said.

Her health difficulties had first become publicly noticeable in September 2025, when kidney stones forced her to miss an appearance at Dollywood.

She later canceled or postponed additional appearances, including her planned Las Vegas residency, although she continued reassuring fans that her condition was improving.

Her final major public appearance came in June, when she attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop.

A private farewell for a very public icon

According to reports, Parton’s funeral will be a small private service in Nashville attended by immediate family.

Seaver also revealed that one of Parton’s final requests concerned how she wanted to be laid to rest.

She asked for a “beautiful bed of plush cotton,” explaining that after decades of wearing elaborate rhinestone costumes, she wanted comfort.

For fans, Parton will forever remain associated with sparkling stage outfits, unmistakable humor and songs including “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.”

For Miley Cyrus, however, those public memories represent only one part of the woman she knew.

Behind the performances were private conversations, family moments and years of advice shared away from the spotlight.

That is why Cyrus’ tribute focused less on Parton’s accomplishments and more on what remains after the music stops.

The conversations will stay private.

The lessons will stay with her.

And, as Cyrus wrote, so will the feeling that her godmother is still beside her.

“I have an angel by my side. I always have.”