Noah Cyrus has broken her silence on Dolly Parton’s death, revealing she deliberately waited until after her sister Miley Cyrus spoke first.
The singer, 26, shared an emotional statement on social media explaining her decision to hold back while Miley, 32, processed the loss of her godmother. Noah posted her tribute after Miley issued her own heartfelt message on Thursday.
Miley, the Hannah Montana star who was Parton’s goddaughter, wrote on Instagram that “the feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share.” She described their bond as sacred and private, rooted in moments “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,” Miley continued. “I have an angel by my side. I always have.”
She noted that one of their final conversations centered on “music and metamorphosis,” and pledged to honor Parton’s memory through her work. “I will always love her and want to make her proud,” she wrote.
Noah then stepped forward with her own lengthy tribute, opening with a direct explanation for her silence. “I wanted the first words you heard to come from miley, and now that she’s spoken, id like to share a few words about dolly,” she wrote on social media.
Noah described Parton as “singular, one of a kind” and “a rainbow to our world for nearly six decades.” She emphasized that no one could replace the country music legend, calling her impact “unparalleled” both globally and personally.
“she was an angel among us who not only wrote songs that spoke to us all, but whose kindness, compassion, and empathy toward those who truly needed it were at the core of who dolly was,” Noah continued.
Noah highlighted Parton’s authenticity and roots, noting that “she never forgot where she came from, and she never stopped being her true self.” She praised Parton’s charitable spirit, saying she “made it her duty to help others, not only through her music, but through her kindness and her commitment to helping those in need.”
The younger Cyrus sister expressed deep gratitude for Parton’s bond with her family, particularly with Miley. “Her beautiful relationship with my family, especially my sister, is one i will be grateful for my entire life,” she wrote.
Noah credited Parton with inspiring her own artistic identity. “i am so grateful to her for inspiring me to be who i am, wear those wigs, have those long nails, to write my stories, and to heal people through music,” she shared.
She concluded by acknowledging her heartbreak while finding comfort in Parton’s enduring legacy. “she came into this world, shared her light, and changed it forever,” Noah wrote. “She will now live in our hearts, and her music will continue to be a friend when lonely, and to celebrate with happiness.”
In the viral moment that preceded both sisters’ statements, news of Parton’s death at 80 sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and prompted an outpouring of tributes from fellow artists including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Elton John, and Oprah. The country icon had reportedly been planning her legacy in her final days, working on what sources described as a “roadmap” for her enduring impact on music and philanthropy.
Noah’s tribute arrived as fans and celebrities alike continued to process the loss of the “Jolene” singer, whose six-decade career transformed country music and popular culture.