Pop megastar Miley Cyrus has been seen in public for the first time since the death of her godmother Dolly Parton, stepping out in Los Angeles alongside her boyfriend Maxx Morando.
The 33-year-old singer appeared downcast with a sad expression as she kept her head down following a lunch date with Morando, a 27-year-old musician, on Tuesday.
Parton, the country music legend, passed away at age 80 last Tuesday morning after a brief battle with cancer. She had been bonded with Cyrus for her entire life, serving as both a personal guide and professional mentor.
The public appearance comes days after Cyrus published a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram to her 205 million followers last Wednesday morning, one day after Parton died.
"The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share," Cyrus wrote in her tribute. "Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts."
Despite keeping their most personal moments private, Cyrus shared that Parton would want her to process the loss through her music and remain resilient.
"What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong," Cyrus wrote. "I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis."
"I will always love her and want to make her proud," she added. "My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things."
Origin of a lifelong bond
The bond between Parton and Cyrus spanned Cyrus's entire life, originating from a long-standing friendship between Parton and Cyrus's father, country star Billy Ray Cyrus.
In a 2009 interview with GMA, Parton explained how she became godmother to the Flowers hitmaker.
"I've known her since she was a baby," Parton told GMA. "Her father's a friend of mine, and when she was born, he said, 'You just have to be her godmother,' and I said, 'I accept.' We never did do a big ceremony, but I'm so proud of her, love her. And she's just like one of my own."
Parton maintained complete confidence in Cyrus's future from the very start of her career. In 2006, Parton guest-starred on Cyrus's Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, playing Aunt Dolly.
Speaking to AOL Music in 2008, as reported by Biography, Parton praised Cyrus's musical abilities and songwriting talent.
"The kids love her because she's Hannah Montana, but what people don't realize about her is she is such a fantastic singer and songwriter," Parton said at the time. "She writes songs like she's 40 years old! She's really deep."
Parton added: "I think she's gonna have a big career after that show is off the air. I know I'm partial, because she's my goddaughter. But I'm amazed at the talent that child has and the effect she has on people."
Career advice and musical duets
Cyrus has frequently spoken about the life and career advice imparted to her by Parton, recently creating a Disney+ concert special marking the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana based on her guidance.
Cyrus admitted to plugging the project to the public before it was ever greenlit, describing it as a habit learned from Parton.
"She told me that if you want something to happen, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no," Cyrus recalled during a cover interview with Variety in March.
In addition to appearing on screen together, the pair collaborated on numerous music projects. Parton featured Cyrus on her 2023 rock album Rockstar, on which Parton covered Cyrus's 2013 hit track Wrecking Ball.
"I just felt honored," Parton said of working together on the project. "I love that song, and I love Miley, and when I started to choose all these people for my record, or songs that I wanted to do, I thought, ‘I have to have Miley.'"
The duo also recorded the 2017 track Rainbowland, which featured on Cyrus's album Younger Now.
Cyrus covered Parton's 1973 classic track Jolene during a Backyard Sessions performance in 2012, which went viral at the time.
The two stars shared the stage for several live duets over the years, including performing Jolene together for the 2010 Hallmark special Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood.
They performed the same song during an appearance on The Voice in 2016 and at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
Final days and nephew's tribute
Parton died last Tuesday morning at the age of 80 after being admitted on August 21 to Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center with autoimmune and kidney problems, with her cause of death confirmed as a brief battle with cancer.
Her passing followed months of health woes that led her to pull out of a string of public appearances, fueling concerns among fans.
Parton's loved ones began racing to Nashville upon news of her hospitalization, though not all were able to reach her while she was alive.
Her death was later confirmed in a heartbreaking Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also acted 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 explained.
Seaver hailed his aunt for having "lived in the light" and stated she was now "in the arms of Jesus" and reunited with her late husband Carl Dean, her parents, and "countless others who have watched her and longed to meet her in the heavens."
Seaver fondly recalled joining Parton on tour when he was a child in the 1980s, sharing that she "opened doors not just for me but for her entire family to reach the potential we didn't even know was possible."
He characterized his aunt as "a farmer, just like her daddy. He farmed the soil. She farmed songs and happiness."
Seaver added: "Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest."
Parton, often referred to as the Queen of Country, enjoyed an illustrious music career spanning six decades and was best known for her iconic hits Jolene and 9 to 5.
