Billy Ray Cyrus has shared an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday.
Cyrus, 65, reflected on his decades-long friendship with Parton, whom he first met in the early 1990s. He recalled Parton being named godmother to his daughter Miley and their professional collaborations.
"I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start. Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton," Cyrus said in a statement. "She was a part of our lives, on our TVs, right in our living rooms."
He also addressed tabloid rumors from 1992 that claimed he and Parton were having an affair while 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," Cyrus recounted. "In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, 'Honey, this trash sells records!'"
Cyrus and Parton later capitalized on the publicity surrounding their friendship by releasing the 1993 duet "Romeo," which reached No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Parton's death was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver. She died at age 80 after being admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville with autoimmune and kidney problems. According to Seaver, Parton had asked him years ago to post an announcement video upon her death.
Cyrus's tribute came roughly two hours after he posted a birthday video featuring celebrity friends and family, including his daughters Miley and Noah, and girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley. The timing led some fans to question whether Cyrus had received the news of Parton's passing before posting the birthday message, with many speculating it was a pre-scheduled post.
Cyrus concluded his tribute by sharing what he described as Parton's final message to him: "Dolly recently sent me 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."