The cast and crew of the beloved Disney Channel sitcom “Hannah Montana” are paying tribute to Dolly Parton, who passed away in Nashville, TN on Aug. 25 at the age of 80. The country music legend appeared in three episodes of the series throughout its four season run as Aunt Dolly, the godmother to protagonist Miley Stewart, mirroring her real-life relationship with Miley Cyrus.
In honor of the show’s 20th anniversary earlier this year, Parton reflected on being part of the cast in a Facebook post, saying, “Reminiscing on my time as Aunt Dolly. When ‘Hannah Montana’ came on the air and Miley Cyrus, my little goddaughter, was the star of it, I was so proud of her. I thought she was sensational.”
Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus, of course, portrayed Miley’s father Robby Ray Stewart on “Hannah Montana.”
The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and actor shared a tribute to Parton on Instagram, alongside a carousel of photos he had with her over the years.
In the caption he said, “I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start. 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.”
Jason Earles
Jason Earles portrayed Miley’s goofy older brother Jackson Stewart in all four seasons of “Hannah Montana.” As a series regular, he shared multiple scenes with Parton throughout her appearances on the sitcom.
Earles shared a statement to Instagram about Parton’s passing, alongside his “Best of Both Our Worlds” (BOBOW) podcast co-hosts Douglas ‘Danger’ Lieblein and Shannon Flynn. The statement was posted to each of the host’s Instagram pages and the official podcast page.
Earles said, “Of all the people I’ve had the chance to meet, Dolly will always be my favorite. She managed to spread more joy and love with a giggle and a joke than most will in a lifetime. We will always love you, ‘Aunt Dolly.'”
Douglas ‘Danger’ Lieblein and Shannon Flynn
Lieblein served as a writer and co-executive producer on “Hannah Montana,” while Flynn was a director and acting coach.
Lieblein shared his memories of working with Parton on “Hannah Montana,” saying, “Dolly was not only a true American treasure, she was also one of the kindest, most generous human beings I have ever met. I spent precious little time with her, but those few weeks left a huge impact on my life. She will be missed by millions. Me included.”
Flynn added, “Dolly was the personification of grace. It was the privilege of a lifetime to work with her, let alone be in her presence.”
Coincidentally, Earles, Lieblein and Flynn shared their BOBOW episode revisiting the season one episode “Good Golly, Miss Dolly” earlier today, before Parton’s passing was publicly announced. In the episode, the co-hosts share their memories about working with Parton.
In the YouTube caption, the trio shared, “This episode was recorded and released before we learned of Dolly Parton’s passing. We’re devastated. She made everyone feel like a member of the family. And in our hearts, she was truly a member of ours. Hopefully our memories of her well continue to spread the joy, love, and laughter that she brought to the world for so many years.”
Cody Linley
Actor and “Dancing with the Stars” alum Cody Linley portrayed love interest Jake Ryan on “Hannah Montana.” He shared a scene with Parton in the episode “Good Golly, Miss Dolly.”
On Instagram, he shared a photo from the scene, saying in the caption, “Rest in peace to the Queen, Dolly Parton. Such a sweet and special soul who exuded positivity, warmth, and joy. May her incredible legacy live on for generations to come. I’m honored and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her.”
Anna Maria Perez de Tagle
Anna Maria Perez de Tagle appeared in 17 episodes of “Hannah Montana,” portraying Ashley Dewitt, one half of the mean girl duo Amber & Ashley.
Perez de Tagle took to her Instagram stories to pay tribute to Dolly, writing, “My heart hurts. Had the pleasure of working with Ms. Dolly Parton on ‘Hannah Montana’ and she was a delight and true force of a woman. I cherish those memories dearly. Rest in peace.”
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields portrayed Susan Stewart, Miley and Jackson’s late mother, on “Hannah Montana.” The actress appeared in three episodes of the Disney show through flashbacks and dream sequences.
While Shields and Parton never shared the screen together on the sitcom, the actress and model has her own ties to the country music legend. Most famously, she sang Parton’s 1979 hit song “You’re the Only One” on the “Tom Jones Show” in 1981.
Shields honored Parton in an Instagram post, saying, “Dolly, there will never be anyone else like you.”
This post will be updated with more tributes from the cast as they are posted.
