Dolly Parton’s death date has haunting connection to goddaughter Miley Cyrus

Dolly Parton’s death date has “historically been important” to her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus, personally and professionally.

Before Parton died on Tuesday at age 80 following a secret cancer battle, Cyrus opened up about the date when she released one of her biggest singles, “Used to Be Young,” in 2023.

“I decided to release ‘Used to Be Young’ on Aug. 25 because this particular date historically has been important to me personally and in my career,” she explained in her ABC special “Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)” in 2024.

As fans may recall, Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, who were 17 and 20 respectively, briefly broke up on Aug. 25, 2010.

Exactly three years later, Miley’s defining hit “Wrecking Ball” was released, with her controversial MTV Video Music Awards performance with Robin Thicke taking place that same day.

The date also has a personal connection to Miley’s family as Aug. 25 is her father Billy Ray Cyrus’ birthday.

Billy Ray Cyrus tapped Parton to be Miley’s godmother in 1992 after the two struck a close friendship through the country music industry.

Apart from their familial bond, Parton and Miley have collaborated professionally many times over the years.

They shared the stage at the 2019 Grammy Awards and co-hosted NBC’s 2023 “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party,” which Parton called the “thrill of [her] life.”

“Even when we were rehearsing, Miley was crying,” the 11-time Grammy winner shared in an interview with Business Insider.

The latest news on music icon Dolly Parton’s death at 80

“The fact that we were singing so well together stirred up our emotions very much. Then we went into ‘I Will Always Love You,’ and she would just have these tears coming down and it was so emotional.” 

Additionally, Parton made several onscreen appearances as “Aunt Dolly” on Miley’s hit Disney show, “Hannah Montana,” which aired from 2006 to 2011.

Parton never had children of her own, but Miley has been open about viewing her as a mother figure over the years.

“Dolly’s been like a mother to me,” she told W Magazine in 2024.

“Actually, I was just reading this fax that she sent me two Mother’s Days ago,” she continued. “Dolly wrote to me to say: ‘How much do I love you? As much as my heart can hold and as far as my arms can reach.’”

At the time of publication, Miley had yet to speak out about the death of her beloved godmother.