Billy Ray Cyrus has shared an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator Dolly Parton, who died on Tuesday.
Cyrus, 65, and Parton, who was godmother to his daughter Miley, had a close working relationship that began in the early 1990s. "Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TVs, right in our living rooms," Cyrus stated in a tribute released following the news of her death.
Reflecting on Rumors and Friendship
Cyrus also recalled tabloid rumors from 1992 suggesting an affair between him and Parton while they were on tour together. "In 1992, I’ll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologize for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her," he wrote. "In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, 'Honey, this trash sells records!'"
In 1993, the pair capitalized on the publicity surrounding their friendship by releasing the duet "Romeo," which reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Parton recently sent Cyrus a "beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart. I will always love her in the same way … with my whole heart … and I always will," Cyrus shared.
A Birthday and a Loss
The tribute to Parton came about two hours after Cyrus posted a birthday message to himself, featuring appearances from celebrities including his daughters Miley and Noah, his girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley, Lil Nas X, Shania Twain, Diplo, and Dennis Quaid. The timing of the birthday video led some fans to question whether Cyrus had received the news of Parton's death before posting.
Dolly Parton's death was confirmed Tuesday by her nephew, Bryan Seaver, in an Instagram video. She was 80 years old and had been hospitalized on Friday at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville for autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.
Seaver stated that the announcement video was something Parton had requested years ago. He also noted that she "lived in the light" and was now "in the arms of Jesus" with her late husband, Carl Dean, and other loved ones.
Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, had a career spanning six decades, with hits including "Jolene" and "9 to 5." In an interview published shortly before her death, she expressed a desire to continue working and achieving goals, despite having dealt with unspecified "health issues."