Miley Cyrus began her Dolly Parton tribute with a story about a concert visit that did not stay secret for long. By the time she finished telling it at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, October 16, she was wiping away tears.
The singer remembered asking her godmother to let her watch a show from the audience. Parton agreed, then opened with the Hannah Montana theme and announced that Miley was sitting in the crowd.
Returning to the same venue after Parton’s death, Cyrus said the memory had become especially precious. “This memory is gold to me,” she told the audience before performing “Jolene.”
Later, Cyrus carried a photograph of Parton in a heart-shaped frame while singing “Wrecking Ball,” according to PEOPLE. The tributes came during the first of two Hollywood Bowl concerts supporting her new album, Bass Persuades.
Dolly Announced Miley’s Secret Visit to the Crowd
Cyrus explained that the Hollywood Bowl was the only place where she had watched a Parton concert as an audience member. Usually, she was backstage or joining her godmother in the performance.
For that visit, she wanted to sit in her seat and enjoy the show like everyone else. As Us Weekly reported, Cyrus recalled Parton accepting the request before making her presence impossible to miss.
First came “The Best of Both Worlds.” Then Parton told the crowd that her goddaughter, Hannah Montana, was among them and had wanted to watch without being disturbed.
Cyrus laughed while remembering the announcement. She said she had not understood everything Parton did at the time, but sharing the story now made that night worth it. “Me and Dolly, we are eternal,” she said through tears.
She spoke about missing Parton and feeling her presence before singing “Jolene.” During the song, Cyrus also joked that she felt bad about using the F-word, imagining her godmother’s response.
‘Wrecking Ball’ Was Part of Their Shared Musical History
When Cyrus returned to Parton’s memory during “Wrecking Ball,” she held her godmother’s portrait in a heart-shaped frame. She told the Hollywood Bowl audience that the song was Parton’s favorite from her catalog.
The pair had performed it together during their 2022 New Year’s Eve special, combining Cyrus’ hit with Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” They also sang “Jolene” during the broadcast.
Parton later invited Cyrus to record “Wrecking Ball” for her 2023 album, Rockstar. In the release announcement on Parton’s website, she recalled nearly crying when she first heard the song and deciding she wanted her goddaughter to sing it with her.
Cyrus Recalled a Final Conversation in Her Instagram Tribute
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Parton died on August 25 at age 80. Cyrus posted her Instagram tribute the following day, writing about the difficulty of expressing her grief publicly while keeping their most personal memories private.
She recalled one of their last conversations, about music and metamorphosis. Cyrus said she believed Parton would want her to feel the loss, write about it and continue making music.
Their relationship began when Cyrus was a baby. Parton had become close to Billy Ray Cyrus, and Miley grew up calling her “Aunt Dolly.” Parton later brought that relationship to television through guest appearances on Hannah Montana.
Their collaborations continued into 2026. In January, Cyrus joined Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah and Reba McEntire on a new recording of Parton’s “Light of a Clear Blue Morning.”
Cyrus Returns to the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday
The concerts follow the September 18 release of Bass Persuades, her tenth studio album, through Atlantic Records. Warner Music announced the October 16 and 18 performances as a two-night engagement celebrating the record. Cyrus is scheduled to return on Sunday, October 18. The Hollywood Bowl lists Model/Actriz on the bill and a 7:30 p.m. start.