Billy Ray, the father of Dolly’s goddaughter Miley, had decades of memories with her, but one of their final private exchanges now carries a completely different weight.

Billy Ray Cyrus Reveals Dolly Parton’s Last Message to Him — Miley Recalls One of Her Final Conversations with ‘Aunt Dolly’
Tetiana Kalna
By Tetiana Kalna
Aug 27, 2026
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02:32 P.M.
Amid a global wave of grief for Dolly Parton, two intimate family farewells have exposed the unfiltered reality of her final days.Country Music

Billy Ray Cyrus has now shared the words Dolly Parton sent him not long before her death, words tied to a friendship that survived decades of rumors and tabloid noise. His account traces back to a single moment in 1992 that, in his words, changed everything between them.

Dolly Parton, stunning in a bright red, embellished dress, sits alongside Billy Ray Cyrus, rocking his signature leather jacket and long hair, at a public event. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus
Dolly Parton, stunning in a bright red, embellished dress, sits alongside Billy Ray Cyrus, rocking his signature leather jacket and long hair, at a public event. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus

His daughter, Miley Cyrus, has her own farewell to share. She opened up about one of her last conversations with the country icon she grew up calling “Aunt Dolly,” a talk that centered on something far more symbolic than either of them may have realized at the time.

A Friendship Built on Trust
Billy Ray said Dolly had been part of his life since childhood, long before they ever worked together. “Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton,” he wrote in a tribute posted to Facebook.Pop Music
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A classic 90s moment: Dolly Parton and Billy Ray Cyrus feature together in this black and white still, showcasing their iconic styles from the era. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus
A classic 90s moment: Dolly Parton and Billy Ray Cyrus feature together in this black and white still, showcasing their iconic styles from the era. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus

He said she was simply always there, on television, in living rooms, part of the background of everyday American life. Their real bond, though, traces back to a single afternoon in 1992. Billy Ray recalled walking into Dolly’s dressing room that year specifically to apologize.

In the studio: Dolly Parton smiles as she shares a microphone with Billy Ray Cyrus during a recording session in this vintage black and white photograph. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus
In the studio: Dolly Parton smiles as she shares a microphone with Billy Ray Cyrus during a recording session in this vintage black and white photograph. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus

Tabloids at the time were running stories claiming the two country stars were having an affair. Billy Ray said he felt he owed her a direct apology for the gossip attached to her name.

Dolly’s response became the story he still tells. According to Billy Ray, she simply looked at him, winked, and said, “Honey, this trash sells records!”Geographic Reference

A candid, color photograph shows a younger Billy Ray Cyrus sporting his famous mullet in a denim shirt, leaning in close with Dolly Parton, who looks bright in a yellow outfit. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus
A candid, color photograph shows a younger Billy Ray Cyrus sporting his famous mullet in a denim shirt, leaning in close with Dolly Parton, who looks bright in a yellow outfit. | Source: Facebook/BillyRayCyrus

That single line, delivered without a hint of anger, set the tone for the rest of their relationship. It became, in Billy Ray’s telling, the defining memory of who Dolly was: unbothered by scandal and endlessly generous with her humor.