Miley Cyrus was overcome with emotion at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday as she honored her late godmother, Dolly Parton, during an intimate and powerful performance.
The legendary singer died at 80 on August 25 after privately battling cancer.
Cyrus opened her concert series at the famed Los Angeles venue in support of her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades. During the sold-out show, the 33-year-old began singing Parton’s iconic hit “Jolene.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Cyrus told the crowd that she had once watched her godmother perform at the Hollywood Bowl—an experience that later inspired her to bring her own concerts to the venue.
She remembered telling Parton that she wanted to sit among the audience and watch the performance “like the rest of the world has gotten to.”
Parton replied, “Okay, Miley,” Cyrus recalled, adding with a laugh that those words from her godmother “never means okay.”
Miley Cyrus, 33, became emotional while paying tribute to her late godmother Dolly Parton during her Friday performance at the Hollywood Bowl; seen in 2019
Cyrus launched her Hollywood Bowl concert series in support of her 10th studio album, Bass Persuades, and performed Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” for the sold-out audience; (Source: Variety)
Because Cyrus did not join Parton onstage, the country icon opened her own show by performing “The Best of Both Worlds,” the signature song from Cyrus’s Disney series Hannah Montana.
“But that’s just not the end of that story,” Cyrus told the Hollywood Bowl audience.
She recalled Parton proudly telling the crowd, “I don’t know if y’all know this, but my goddaughter is Hannah Montana, and she’s actually here tonight, but she’s sitting out in her seat. She didn’t want anyone to bug her.
“She said she just wanted to watch the show,” Cyrus continued, joking that the revelation “defeated the entire purpose of the conversation that we had just had.”
The singer then said she could still feel Parton’s presence beside her as she performed.
“Sitting here with you all right now, feeling her all around me, knowing that she’s right here beside me every day, more than she could be when she was here—I feel her more now than ever,” Cyrus said.
She added that sharing the treasured memory with her fans made the evening “very worth it.”
“This memory is gold to me. Me and Dolly, we are eternal,” Cyrus said through tears. “Nothing in this life could ever tear us apart, and I’m gonna see her again.”
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Unable to join her godmother onstage, Cyrus watched as Parton opened the performance with “The Best of Both Worlds,” the song from the Disney series Hannah Montana; (X/Miley Cyrus)
Cyrus remembered Parton speaking proudly about her goddaughter: “I don’t know if y’all know this, but my goddaughter is Hannah Montana, and she’s actually here tonight, but she’s sitting out in her seat. She didn’t want anyone to bug her”; Parton seen in 2025 in Nashville
“This memory is gold to me. Me and Dolly, we are eternal,” Cyrus said emotionally. “Nothing in this life could ever tear us apart, and I’m gonna see her again”; seen in 2022
Cyrus paused as tears filled her eyes and lifted a tissue to her face. When she lowered her head, the crowd responded with a warm wave of cheers and support.
‘And I can’t f***ing wait because I miss her,’ she continued.
‘Some of the greatest music that we have today was written, produced, performed by my Aunt Dolly, and this is one of those songs.’
The Grammy winner then performed Jolene for fans during Friday’s concert.
Social media users took to X to share their thoughts over the moving moment, with one penning, ‘Absolutely got me emotional omg.’
Another wrote, ‘They Miley and Dolly bond is so special – that Hollywood Bowl moment must have been so emotional.’
Parton passed away at the age of 80 on August 25, and her death was confirmed by her nephew Bryan Seaver in an Instagram video.
Her passing took place after being admitted to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.
Cyrus tearfully paused to bring a tissue to her eye as she tilted her head down, causing the audience to let out cheers of support. ‘And I can’t f***ing wait because I miss her,’ she continued; seen in 2019
Parton’s representatives soon revealed she died following a ‘brief battle with cancer’ in a statement to People.
‘Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched,’ the statement read.
‘After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones.’
Following her godmother’s death, Cyrus shared a tribute to her main Instagram page and called the late singer an ‘angel.’