“I Have An Angel By My Side”: Miley Cyrus Recalled Her Last Conversations With Her Godmother, Dolly Parton, In An Emotional Statement About Her Death

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Yesterday, Aug. 25, we received the heartbreaking news that Dolly Parton died at age 80.

Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced the news in an Instagram video, saying that their family "will work diligently to ensure her spirit will live with us forever."

"Dolly was a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil. She farmed songs and happiness," Bryan said in the emotional video, which you can see here. "Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest."

Dolly's death came just a few days after she told People that she was navigating some "hard times with [her] health," but was still keeping busy. The family's announcement did not share her cause of death; however, a rep for the country music icon subsequently revealed that she died after a "brief battle with cancer." They did not specify what type of cancer.

When the news broke, many people's first thoughts turned to Dolly's goddaughter, Miley Cyrus.

For context, Dolly developed a close friendship with Miley's father, Billy Ray Cyrus, while they were touring together in the early '90s. So, when Miley's mom, Tish, fell pregnant in 1992, Billy Ray asked Dolly if she'd be the godmother to their baby girl.

Dolly and her husband, Carl, never had children of their own, so she very much treated Miley as her own. And over the years, we've all gotten the pleasure of witnessing their beautiful bond, both on and off the stage.

"I love Miley. She's my little sweetheart. I've known her since before she was born, actually," Dolly told Howard Stern in 2023, discussing their "very, very close" bond. "I think Miley's a spectacular human being," she added.

Now, Miley has issued a statement about her godmother's passing — and it's as beautiful as you'd expect.

Alongside a gorgeous black and white photograph of Dolly in her younger years, Miley wrote on social media: "The 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," she wrote, adding that one of their "last conversations was about music and metamorphosis."

"I will always love her and want to make her proud," the statement concluded. "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. 💖"

What a magical duo we all got to witness. RIP Dolly. You can find the full Instagram post here.

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