Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton shared a close bond. Parton was the “Wrecking Ball” singer’s honorary godmother, but Cyrus said she was more like a mother, as she revealed as much in an interview with W magazine in 2024. On Tuesday, August 25, Parton’s death was announced in a video statement on Instagram. Now, a heartbreaking connection to the date has surfaced.
How August 25 Impacts Both Dolly Parton & Miley Cyrus
The date August 25 has historically been an eventful date for Cyrus: it was the date when she and her ex-husband (then boyfriend) Liam Hemsworth broke up. Page Six reports they broke up on August 25, 2010. The publication notes that “Wrecking Ball” was also released on August 25, but in 2013. Then in 2023, Cyrus released “Used to Be Young” on August 25. It would be the second single from her eighth studio album, “Endless Summer Vacation.”
In her ABC special “Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions)” in 2024, Cyrus said, “I decided to release ‘Used to Be Young’ on August 25 because this particular date historically has been important to me personally and in my career,” Page Six reports.
Billy Ray Cyrus also celebrates his birthday on August 25. Tragically, it was also the date when Parton’s death at age 80 was shared publicly. She died from cancer, after a private battle.
Miley Cyrus & Dolly Parton’s Special Bond
Cyrus released a heartbreaking statement about losing Parton on Instagram on August 26. “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,” she began her message. In just minutes, the comment has been liked over 300,000 times, and fans have flooded the post’s comment section to share their condolences.
The bond Parton and Cyrus shared was unbreakable. In an interview with W Magazine, Cyrus said, “Dolly’s been like a mother to me. Actually, I was just reading this fax that she sent me two Mother’s Days ago.” She also revealed a glimpse into their close bond and how Parton was truly someone special.
“No one else faxes. I literally have to access my lawyer’s office, because the lawyer is the only person who can still receive a fax,” Cyrus said. “Dolly wrote to me to say: ‘How much do I love you? As much as my heart can hold and as far as my arms can reach.’ It gets me choked up. I just love her so much. Last Christmas, she gave me a whole mannequin, done in her proportions and wearing her outfit. It’s so major.”
The country music icon and Cyrus shared mutual love and admiration. In a November 2025 interview with People, Parton shared her love for Cyrus and praised her for taking risks. “Just like Miley [Cyrus], my goddaughter, I love her. She’s always trying new things. Some of them work great, some of them don’t, but she’s learned a lot,” she said. “If you don’t have the nerve to try it, you’re never going to know. That’s kind of like my philosophy.”
