Billy Ray Cyrus has paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and collaborator Dolly Parton following her death on Tuesday, recalling how she laughed off rumors of a romance between them.
The 65-year-old singer revealed Parton's final words to him in a statement released roughly two hours after an ill-timed video celebrating his birthday was posted to his social media accounts.
Parton died on Tuesday morning at the age of 80. She was admitted to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Friday with autoimmune and kidney problems, according to TMZ.
"Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart," Cyrus wrote. "I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will."
Enduring friendship and tabloid rumors
Cyrus and Parton first became friends in the early 1990s when he served as her opening act shortly after the release of his breakout hit, "Achy Breaky Heart." They forged a close bond, and Cyrus named the "Jolene" singer as the godmother to his daughter Miley when she was born in 1992.
In his tribute, Cyrus remembered his early admiration for the star. "I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start," he wrote. "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."
The pair's time on tour together sparked tabloid speculation that they were having an affair. Cyrus recalled how Parton handled the false reports.
"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 said. "In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, 'Honey, this trash sells records!'"
The duo capitalized on the publicity the following year, releasing a duet titled "Romeo" that reached number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Birthday post confusion
Parton's death was confirmed on Tuesday in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security.
"This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago before I fully absorbed it as a future reality," Seaver said.
Shortly after the announcement, a star-studded video celebrating Cyrus's 65th birthday appeared on his accounts.
The celebratory clip featured birthday wishes for the "Achy Breaky Heart" hitmaker from his daughters Miley and Noah, his girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley, and a host of celebrities including Shania Twain, Diplo and Dennis Quaid.
It also featured an appearance from Lil Nas X, who famously recorded the hit track "Old Town Road" with Cyrus.
Fans expressed confusion in the comments section over the timing of the post.
"I don't think he knows," one fan commented, while another suggested it was a scheduled post. A third user wrote: "He knows. Trust me he knows. The guy is most likely in shock."
Another fan noted the sad timing, adding: "What a coincidence to die on the same day as Billy's birthday."
Final days in Nashville
Following her hospitalization, Parton's loved ones began racing to Nashville, though not all were able to reach her while she was alive.
In his video statement, Seaver praised his aunt for having "lived in the light" and said she was now "in the arms of Jesus." He added that she was reunited with her late husband Carl Dean, her parents, and "countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens."
The Queen of Country enjoyed an illustrious six-decade music career marked by hits such as "9 to 5" and "Jolene." Her passing followed months of health woes that had forced her to pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling fan fears for her wellbeing.
Family insiders indicated a private service for close friends and relations will be held in Nashville within the next few days.
In an interview with People magazine published just four days before her death, Parton said she had been grappling with "some health issues that I just didn't pay attention to when I was watching over Carl."
Despite her condition, she declared she still had "so many things I want to achieve" and vowed to continue "working as long as I can to see everything come to life."
