In an Instagram post, Cyrus recalled growing up watching Parton, the affair rumors that once surrounded them and a recent message she sent him before her death. Parton’s death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver in a video posted to her official social media accounts.
Billy Ray Cyrus Recalls His Friendship With Dolly Parton
“I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start,” Cyrus wrote, before remembering just how early Parton became part of his life. “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.”
Cyrus then returned to 1992, when he was dealing with tabloid reports claiming he was having an affair with Parton. “I’ll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologize for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her,” he wrote. Parton’s reaction was characteristically playful. “In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, ‘Honey, this trash sells records!’”
Their relationship went far beyond that brief tabloid episode. After touring with Cyrus during his early success, Parton became the godmother of his daughter Miley Cyrus, later appearing alongside the family during the “Hannah Montana” years. Looking back on those decades, Cyrus described Parton as someone who remained a constant presence in his life.
The singer also shared that his most recent exchange with Parton had been especially meaningful. “Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart,” Cyrus wrote. He then returned that sentiment directly, adding, “I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will.”
Cyrus’s tribute now joins the many remembrances of a country music icon whose connection to his family lasted for more than three decades.