
Miley Cyrus has emotionally opened up about her relationship with her late godmother, Dolly Parton, and shared the biggest misconception people had about the country singer.
The ‘Jolene’ hitmaker died aged 80 on 25 August, surrounded by her loved ones, following a 'brief battle' with cancer.
She’d formed a close friendship with Miley’s father Billy Ray in the early 1990s and got the honour of becoming his and Tish Cyrus' eldest daughter's godmother when she was born.
Ever since then, the duo have famously had an unbreakable bond, with Dolly consistently supporting and mentoring Miley throughout her career and even guest starring on her Disney TV show, Hannah Montana.
Advert
Now, in an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe to promote her brand new album, Bass Persuades, Miley has elaborated on how Dolly inspired her own career.

She explained that despite her larger-than-life public persona, she was incredibly ‘real and authentic’.
Miley explained: “She’s known for, I guess, the faux, the fake, the hair, the makeup, the show of it, but there’s a part of her that’s just what I think everyone gravitates toward - how real she is and how authentic she is.”
She recalled: “There was a time in my life - we hit on it with Hannah - so much of my life was about persona. And I think a way that I could look at that as you can have a persona and still be who you are is because of Dolly.”
The singer compared it to doing drag, explaining that ‘the way that I present myself is just someone that is so different from the person that feeds the tortoise every morning’.
Miley added: “But again, that person’s inside of me. I just kind of have her off.”
During the interview, the ‘Malibu’ hitmaker also lifted the lid on her final conversation with Dolly before her passing.

She heartbreakingly recalled: “The time that we talked - which was the last time we would talk - it was actually me telling her about this record [Bass Persuades] because even though we are so different, that’s what made us so perfect for each other is that she knew this, and I know this.”
Miley explained that her godmother has always been ‘the first person’ she sent her vinyl records to, and this time around she has no plans to change that, because she ‘always does’.
The singer, who recently dropped her surname professionally and started going by ‘Miley,’ paid tribute to Dolly on Instagram following her death with a tear-jerking statement.
She wrote: “he feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis.
“I will always love her and want to make her proud. 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.”
Topics: Miley Cyrus, Entertainment, Celebrity, Music