Miley Cyrus broke down in tears honoring her late godmother Dolly Parton at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Friday.
The “Flowers” singer, 33, was performing at the iconic venue when she paused to reflect on the country music legend, who died in August at age 80 following a battle with cancer. Cyrus wiped tears from her eyes with a tissue as she addressed the crowd, which included Selena Gomez and Christina Aguilera.
“Me and Dolly, we are eternal. Nothing in this life could ever tear us apart,” she told the audience, according to video footage from the performance.
“And I’m going to see her again. And I can’t f–king wait because I miss her,” she added.
Cyrus then launched into an emotional rendition of Parton’s 1973 hit “Jolene” as an image of her beloved “Aunt Dolly” appeared behind her onstage. She later held up a heart-shaped framed photo of the music icon during another moment of tribute.
Before the performance, Cyrus shared a touching and funny memory of the only time she had watched Parton perform live as a member of the audience. The former Disney Channel star recalled asking her godmother to let her enjoy one of her Hollywood Bowl concerts without being pulled onstage to perform alongside her.
However, Parton had other plans. Despite agreeing to let Cyrus enjoy the show as a regular fan, the “9 to 5” singer kicked off her performance with “The Best of Both Worlds,” the theme song from Cyrus’ hit Disney Channel series, “Hannah Montana.”
Parton then proudly announced to the entire audience that her famous goddaughter was sitting among them — much to Cyrus’ embarrassment.
Looking back on the sweet moment, Cyrus explained that she now cherishes the memory more than ever. She also told the audience that she could still feel Parton’s presence, despite the devastating loss.
“I feel her more now than ever,” she said.
Parton became Cyrus’ godmother when she was born in 1992, having been a longtime friend of Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus. The two maintained a close relationship throughout the years, frequently performing together and publicly expressing their admiration for one another. Parton also famously appeared as Aunt Dolly on “Hannah Montana.”
The bond between the two performers remained a constant through Cyrus’ evolution from child star to Grammy-winning pop artist. Their collaborations and mutual praise became a hallmark of both their careers, with Parton often speaking of her goddaughter with maternal pride.
Friday night’s concert marked one of Cyrus’ most public moments of grief since Parton’s death on Aug. 25. The raw display of emotion offered fans a glimpse into the depth of their connection, beyond the public performances and playful interviews that had defined their relationship in the spotlight.
Cyrus’ Hollywood Bowl show was part of her ongoing concert series in Los Angeles.