Dolly Parton was Miley Cyrus's godmother from the day she was born. It started with one phone call in 1992 — and ended with a goodbye this week.
Billy Ray Cyrus rang Parton the year Miley was born. "We're having a girl, and you've got to be her godmother," he said. Parton replied that she would be honoured.
Parton joined Hannah Montana as Miley Stewart's "Aunt Dolly" in the season-one episode Good Golly, Miss Dolly. The nickname was real life, written into the script.
Parton played Aunt Dolly three times across four seasons, returning for I Will Always Loathe You and finally Kiss It All Goodbye in 2010.
Parton featured on Rainbowland from Miley's album Younger Now. Parton suggested making it about a free and safe world, and the two rewrote the song together.
At the Grammys, Miley joined Parton on Jolene in a gold suit, then sang After the Gold Rush in three-part harmony with Parton and Maren Morris.
Parton co-hosted Miley's New Year's Eve Party on NBC. Minutes before midnight they sang a medley of Wrecking Ball and I Will Always Love You.
Parton put their duet on her rock album Rockstar. Released as a single that October, it reached No. 6 on Billboard's Rock Digital Song Sales chart.
Parton died of cancer at 80. She had been Miley's godmother for every one of Miley's 33 years — longer than any of the records or the duets.
"The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share," she posted. Their sacred moments, she said, would stay between their hearts.
Miley said one of their last conversations was about music and metamorphosis — fitting for a godmother who watched her change for 33 years and never flinched.