Miley Cyrus has stepped out publicly for the first time since the death of her beloved godmother, Dolly Parton.
The 33-year-old singer was photographed arriving at a Los Angeles recording studio on Wednesday, Aug. 26, just one day after Parton’s death.
Cyrus kept a low profile for the outing, wearing a black T-shirt and dark sunglasses with her blonde hair pulled back. Photos published by TMZ showed the Grammy winner carrying a drink as she made her way into the studio.
The sighting comes during an intensely personal period for Cyrus, whose relationship with Parton stretched far beyond their famous musical collaborations. Parton was Cyrus’ godmother and had been a fixture in her life since childhood, with their bond eventually extending onto stages, television screens and records as Cyrus forged a career of her own.
Cyrus had broken her silence on Parton’s death just hours before she was photographed in Los Angeles, sharing a deeply personal tribute that offered a glimpse into how she is processing the loss.
Miley Cyrus Shared a Heartbreaking Tribute to Dolly Parton
Cyrus honored Parton on Instagram Wednesday with a black-and-white photograph of the country music legend.
“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share,” Cyrus began. “Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts.”
Rather than reveal those private memories, Cyrus reflected on what she believes her godmother would want her to do next.
“What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong,” she wrote. “I have an angel by my side. I always have.”
Cyrus also revealed that one of their final conversations centered on something that had connected them for years.
“One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis. 🦋”
She concluded her tribute by writing, “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. 💖 @dollyparton”
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton Shared a Bond for Decades
Parton’s connection to Cyrus began long before Miley became a star herself.
The country legend was a longtime friend and collaborator of Miley’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, and became Miley’s godmother. As Miley grew up and established her own career, their relationship developed into a creative partnership as well.
Parton memorably played Aunt Dolly on Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana,” bringing their real-life connection onto the series that launched Cyrus into superstardom.
The two would go on to perform together numerous times over the years, including during Cyrus’ “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” special in 2022. They also recorded music together, with Cyrus appearing on Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar for a new rendition of “Wrecking Ball.”
For Cyrus, however, their relationship clearly existed somewhere beyond the public moments fans were able to see.
Her decision to head into a recording studio one day after Parton’s death is especially poignant in light of the message she had shared only hours earlier: that Parton would want her to grieve, turn those feelings into music and keep going.
