Miley Cyrus says her late godmother Dolly Parton sent her a supernatural sign from beyond.
The 33-year-old singer broke down on stage at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Sunday while recounting the eerie moment to nearly 18,000 fans. Cyrus explained that she keeps a Dolly mannequin in her bedroom, a Christmas gift from the country legend herself that is dressed and built like her. She played “Jolene” for the figure on video, lit a candle, and put a flower down before making a silent request.
“I put a flower down for her, and I said, ‘Dolly, if you’re here right now, flicker the lights,'” Cyrus told the audience. “And I didn’t say anything out loud, but the entire hallway started flickering.”
The “Flowers” hitmaker pointed toward her fiancé, Maxx Morando, 27, noting that the drummer was nearby but had no idea what she had asked for. She told the crowd that knowing Parton was with her helped her face emotions she feared most.
“But I know [Dolly’s] here with me tonight, and I’m feeling some of the feelings that I’m most afraid of, but having her here with me is getting me through, and having you here with me is getting me through,” she said. “So no matter what it takes, this show is for you. And for Dolly.”
The emotional tribute came during Cyrus’s second sold-out night at the venue, where she also welcomed Morando on stage to play drums during the encore for her new song “Let’s Get Married.” The couple, engaged in 2025 after four years together, shared a kiss before he exited.
Earlier in the weekend, Cyrus had already dissolved into tears while speaking about their bond at Friday’s show. “Me and Dolly, we are eternal. Nothing in this life could ever tear us apart,” she told that crowd. “And I’m going to see her again. And I can’t f–king wait because I miss her.”
Later Sunday night, Cyrus wept again while clutching a framed photo of Parton and singing her 2023 hit “Used To Be Young.” “Let my Aunt Dolly hear you,” she urged the audience. She also displayed Parton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star while performing her 2025 track “Walk of Fame.”
The “Wrecking Ball” singer’s setlist spanned her career, from 2009’s “The Climb” and “Party in the USA” to 2013’s “Wrecking Ball” and her Grammy-winning “Flowers.” She surprised fans with “Karen Don’t Be Sad” alongside Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips.
Parton, who died August 25 at 80 after a brief cancer battle, had been Miley’s godmother since birth. Billy Ray Cyrus, the “Old Town Road” singer, had asked his close friend to take the role when his daughter was born in 1992. The “9 to 5” legend appeared as “Aunt Dolly” on several episodes of “Hannah Montana,” which ran from 2006 to 2011, and the pair frequently performed “Jolene” together at events including the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Following Parton’s death, Cyrus posted an Instagram tribute calling the loss “beyond what feels right to share,” She wrote that their most sacred moments would stay private, “behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” adding, “I will always love her and want to make her proud.” In a 2024 W magazine interview, she had called Parton an honorary mother.
Billy Ray Cyrus has also been processing the loss publicly, saying exclusively that he now refers to life as “A.D.” for “After Dolly,” explaining that “her light still shines.” He revealed that Parton’s final words to him were a touching farewell before her death.
The Hollywood Bowl concerts came months after that August loss, with Cyrus turning her grief into a two-night musical memorial for the woman who helped shape her persona. “Dolly was just always right,” she reflected in a separate interview about how Parton taught her to “have a persona & still be who you are.”
Cyrus will continue her tour with upcoming scheduled performances.