Billy Ray Cyrus Reveals Dolly Parton’s Last Message to Him — Miley Recalls One of Her Final Conversations With ‘Aunt Dolly’

The final days of Dolly Parton’s life have become the subject of deeply personal memories from the people who knew her best.

Among the most emotional have come from Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter, Miley Cyrus, both of whom shared extraordinary connections with the country music legend.

Billy Ray revealed that Dolly sent him a deeply personal message shortly before her death, telling him that she loved him “with her whole heart.”

Miley, meanwhile, opened up about one of her final conversations with the woman she lovingly called “Aunt Dolly.”

Together, their messages offer an intimate glimpse into Dolly’s relationship with the Cyrus family—and into the lasting influence she had on Miley’s life, career and identity.

Billy Ray Cyrus Shares Dolly Parton’s Final Message to Him

Following Dolly’s death on August 25 at age 80, Billy Ray shared an emotional tribute remembering the woman who had been part of his life for decades.

The country singer described Dolly not simply as a musical legend, but as a close friend and a deeply important figure in his family.

His tribute included a particularly poignant detail.

Billy Ray said Dolly had recently sent him a beautiful message telling him that she loved him with her whole heart.

For Billy Ray, those words have now become something he will carry with him permanently.

He responded by saying that he would always love Dolly in the same way—with his whole heart.

It was a remarkably simple message, but its timing gave it enormous emotional weight.

Dolly had no way of knowing that her words would become one of the final memories Billy Ray would have of their friendship.

Dolly and Billy Ray Cyrus Shared a Friendship That Spanned Decades

Dolly’s connection to Billy Ray Cyrus went back many years.

Their friendship was established long before Miley became one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

When Billy Ray became a major country music name, Dolly was already an established legend.

Yet their relationship developed beyond the boundaries of the music business.

Dolly became a trusted friend and eventually a godmother to Billy Ray’s daughter, Miley.

That made her part of the Cyrus family in a way that went far beyond professional collaborations.

Dolly Became “Aunt Dolly” to Miley

For Miley Cyrus, Dolly was never simply a legendary singer her father happened to know.

She was family.

Dolly became Miley’s godmother, and Miley has repeatedly described her as an important maternal figure throughout her life.

In a previous interview, Miley explained just how significant Dolly’s presence had been, describing her as someone who had been like a mother to her.

That relationship was visible to the public for years.

Dolly appeared on Hannah Montana, performed alongside Miley and repeatedly defended and encouraged her goddaughter as Miley navigated the difficult transition from child star to adult performer.

Miley Cyrus Breaks Her Silence After Dolly’s Death

Miley shared her own emotional tribute on August 26, one day after Dolly died.

Her message was deeply personal.

Rather than focusing on Dolly’s awards, record sales or celebrity status, Miley concentrated on the private relationship they shared.

She remembered Dolly as someone who had guided her through different stages of her life.

She also reflected on one of their final conversations.

For Miley, those final exchanges were not simply conversations with a famous singer.

They were conversations with the woman she had known as Aunt Dolly since childhood.

Their Final Conversations Were About Music and Change

Miley’s tribute reportedly reflected on conversations she and Dolly had about music, transformation and the way artists evolve over time.

That theme is particularly fitting considering Miley’s own career.

Few young performers have experienced as dramatic a transformation in the public eye as Miley Cyrus.

She went from starring on Hannah Montana to becoming an international pop star, experimenting with different musical styles and eventually earning major critical recognition as an adult artist.

Through all of those changes, Dolly remained a source of encouragement.

She never seemed interested in forcing Miley to remain the child audiences remembered.

Instead, Dolly encouraged her to become her own person.

Dolly Supported Miley Through Her Most Controversial Years

Miley’s transition from Disney star to adult performer was accompanied by enormous public scrutiny.

Every change in her appearance was analyzed.

Every performance generated headlines.

Her 2013 MTV Video Music Awards appearance with Robin Thicke became one of the most controversial pop-culture moments of the decade.

But Dolly consistently defended her goddaughter.

Rather than publicly condemning Miley for changing, Dolly emphasized her talent and individuality.

That support meant a great deal to Miley.

It also demonstrated something important about Dolly’s philosophy.

She understood that young performers needed the freedom to grow.

Dolly Never Tried to Make Miley Into Another Dolly

One of Dolly’s greatest gifts to Miley may have been allowing her to become someone completely different.

Dolly had her own unmistakable identity.

The rhinestones.

The wigs.

The country music.

The humor.

The songwriting.

The Southern charm.

But she never appeared to expect Miley to reproduce that formula.

Instead, Dolly encouraged her goddaughter to find her own voice.

That lesson became increasingly important as Miley moved through different stages of her career.

Their Bond Extended Beyond Music

The relationship between Dolly and Miley wasn’t built exclusively around performances.

They spent time together away from the stage.

They shared personal conversations.

They laughed together.

And Dolly remained someone Miley could turn to for advice.

Their relationship was unusual because it existed simultaneously inside and outside the entertainment industry.

They could perform together in front of millions of people, but they could also talk privately as family.

That distinction is what makes Miley’s final tribute so emotional.

She wasn’t saying goodbye to an icon.

She was saying goodbye to Aunt Dolly.

Dolly Appeared on “Hannah Montana”

One of the most memorable examples of their relationship came when Dolly appeared on Hannah Montana.

Her presence on the Disney Channel series introduced Dolly to a younger generation while giving viewers a glimpse into Miley’s real-life connection with her.

Dolly played a glamorous relative on the show, but the affection between the two performers was genuine.

Their scenes became memorable partly because audiences knew that the woman standing beside Miley wasn’t simply a guest star.

She was her real-life godmother.

Dolly Continued Encouraging Miley as an Adult

Their relationship did not disappear once Hannah Montana ended.

Instead, it evolved.

Dolly continued appearing alongside Miley at musical events and collaborating with her.

The two performed together at major events and recorded music together.

Dolly also participated in Miley’s later projects, demonstrating that their artistic relationship remained strong even as Miley established an identity entirely separate from her childhood career.

Dolly’s Advice Continued to Matter

Miley has spoken publicly about lessons she learned from Dolly.

One of the most memorable pieces of advice involved taking control of her own career and promoting her ideas before they were fully realized.

Miley later said that Dolly encouraged her to promote something before it even existed—a philosophy that helped influence how Miley approached her own projects.

That kind of advice reveals how Dolly approached success.

She wasn’t simply interested in singing.

She understood branding, business, creativity and the importance of believing in an idea before everyone else did.

Dolly’s Influence on Miley’s Career Was Enormous

When Miley became a global superstar, Dolly remained part of the story.

She appeared on Hannah Montana.

She performed with Miley.

She supported Miley through controversy.

She celebrated Miley’s accomplishments.

And she continued encouraging her to take creative risks.

Miley’s career eventually moved far beyond country music.

She became a pop artist, rock performer and Grammy-winning musician.

But Dolly’s influence remained visible.

The two women shared an understanding that reinvention was not something to fear.

It was something to embrace.

Billy Ray’s Message Adds Another Layer to the Family Story

Billy Ray’s tribute gives the public another perspective.

For decades, Dolly was connected to the Cyrus family through him.

Their friendship helped create the circumstances that eventually made Dolly Miley’s godmother.

Now, following Dolly’s death, Billy Ray is left with one of the most meaningful final messages anyone could receive from a loved one.

She told him she loved him.

Not as a celebrity.

Not as a professional acquaintance.

But as someone who mattered deeply to her.

“With Her Whole Heart”

The phrase Billy Ray shared has resonated because it reflects the way so many people remember Dolly.

She was famous for generosity.

She frequently told people she loved them.

She encouraged others.

She supported young artists.

And she built charitable institutions around the idea that success was most meaningful when it could be shared.

Her final message to Billy Ray therefore feels consistent with the woman people knew.

It was warm.

It was personal.

And it was full of affection.

Miley’s Tribute Reveals the Other Side of Dolly’s Legacy

Billy Ray remembered a lifelong friend.

Miley remembered a godmother.

Those two perspectives reveal why Dolly’s death has been so difficult for the Cyrus family.

She occupied different roles in their lives.

For Billy Ray, she was a trusted friend and musical peer.

For Miley, she was a mentor and maternal figure.

For millions of fans, she was an icon.

All of those identities existed at the same time.

Dolly Was Already Part of Miley’s Family Story

Dolly’s influence on Miley began before Miley was old enough to understand what her godmother’s fame meant.

She grew up around Dolly.

She watched her perform.

She saw how she treated people.

And she eventually worked alongside her.

That created a unique relationship between the two women.

Miley wasn’t simply inspired by Dolly’s music.

She learned from Dolly’s approach to life.

A Lesson in Kindness and Individuality

One of the qualities Miley repeatedly admired in Dolly was her ability to remain completely herself.

Dolly never seemed embarrassed by her appearance or personality.

She embraced her femininity.

She embraced humor.

She embraced glamour.

She embraced her Southern roots.

And she never allowed other people’s expectations to determine who she was.

For a young performer growing up under intense scrutiny, that example could be enormously powerful.

Dolly’s Death Leaves Miley With a Different Kind of Memory

Miley now has decades of memories to carry forward.

There are performances.

There are television appearances.

There are songs.

There are photographs.

There are family moments.

And there are private conversations that the public will never hear.

Among them are the final conversations she had with Aunt Dolly.

Those memories are likely to become even more precious with time.

The Cyrus Family Was Part of Dolly’s Extended Family

Dolly’s relationship with the Cyrus family also demonstrates how entertainment friendships can evolve into something much deeper.

What began as a friendship between two country musicians eventually became a family connection.

Dolly became Miley’s godmother.

She became a regular presence in Miley’s professional life.

And she remained close to Billy Ray.

That makes the loss especially painful.

The Cyrus family isn’t simply mourning a famous friend.

They are mourning someone who had been woven into their family history for decades.

Dolly’s Final Messages Now Carry New Meaning

There is something especially emotional about hearing that Dolly was still sending messages of love shortly before her death.

Billy Ray’s account shows that she was still reaching out to people who mattered to her.

Miley’s memories show that their relationship was still active and meaningful.

These details challenge the idea that Dolly’s final days should be viewed only through the lens of illness.

Instead, they reveal someone who was still communicating, creating memories and maintaining relationships.

A Legacy That Miley Can Carry Forward

Dolly Parton spent her life encouraging people to use their talents.

She built businesses.

She wrote songs.

She supported education.

She created the Imagination Library.

She invested in communities.

And she helped countless people simply by offering encouragement.

Miley has now lost one of the most important mentors in her life.

But the lessons Dolly gave her are likely to remain.

Her creativity.

Her confidence.

Her kindness.

Her willingness to reinvent herself.

And her insistence on being unapologetically Dolly.

“Aunt Dolly” Will Always Be Part of Miley’s Story

Miley’s career will continue to evolve.

She will record new music.

She will create new projects.

She will experience new stages of her life.

But Dolly’s influence will remain part of her story.

Every time Miley performs one of their collaborations, remembers a piece of advice or hears one of Dolly’s songs, that connection will remain.

Dolly may no longer be available for another phone call or conversation.

But the relationship does not simply disappear.

The Final Words Between Them Matter

The most emotional part of these tributes may be that neither Billy Ray nor Miley knew exactly how precious their final conversations with Dolly would become.

Billy Ray received a message telling him she loved him with her whole heart.

Miley had one of her final conversations with the woman she had called Aunt Dolly for most of her life.

At the time, they were simply moments between people who loved one another.

After Dolly’s death, those moments became permanent memories.

Dolly Parton Leaves Behind More Than Music

Dolly’s catalog will continue to be celebrated.

Her songs will continue to be streamed.

Her performances will continue to be watched.

Her charitable work will continue to help people.

But perhaps her most lasting legacy will exist in people like Miley Cyrus.

People she encouraged.

People she mentored.

People she loved.

People who will carry her lessons into the next generation.

A Final Goodbye From the Cyrus Family

Billy Ray Cyrus’s final message to Dolly was filled with love.

Miley’s tribute was filled with gratitude and grief.

Together, they reveal the Dolly Parton that existed behind the celebrity.

She was not simply the woman millions saw on television.

She was a friend who sent personal messages.

A godmother who offered advice.

A mentor who encouraged reinvention.

A family member who remained present through life’s biggest changes.

And for Miley Cyrus, she will always be something even more personal.

Aunt Dolly.

The world will remember Dolly Parton as a legendary singer, songwriter, entertainer and philanthropist.

The Cyrus family will remember something more intimate.

They will remember the woman who loved them—and who, shortly before her death, made sure they knew it.