Miley Cyrus has shared details of her final conversation with late godmother Dolly Parton and discussed how the country icon taught her to balance a theatrical stage persona with personal authenticity, per tyla.com.
Parton died on August 25 aged 80 following a short battle with cancer.
Formally godmother to Cyrus since birth, having befriended Billy Ray Cyrus in the early 1990s, Parton maintained a lifelong mentorship that included guest-appearing on Hannah Montana.
Speaking to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe ahead of her new album Bass Persuades, Cyrus said public perception misses Parton’s foundational reality. “She’s known for… the hair, the makeup, the show of it, but… how real she is and how authentic she is” is what draws people in, Cyrus noted, comparing the duality to drag performance.
During their final phone call, Cyrus discussed the new record with Parton, maintaining a tradition of sending her vinyl copies first. Cyrus previously paid tribute on Instagram, writing that Parton would want her to channel the grief into music.
Parton remains one of country music’s most decorated and enduring figures, while Cyrus, who now performs mononymously as Miley, has evolved from Disney child star to experimental pop artist.