Fact Check: Did Dolly Parton leave the rights and royalties to 'Jolene' to Miley Cyrus?

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A viral post on X claims that Dolly Parton left the rights and royalties to her hit song 'Jolene' to Miley Cyrus in her will.

Parton, who died on August 25, 2026, at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, shared a close godmother-goddaughter relationship with Cyrus. The two also performed 'Jolene' together several times, including at the 2019 Grammy Awards.

Claim: Dolly Parton left the rights and royalties to 'Jolene' to Miley Cyrus

The rumor began with an X user called Mileystats, who claimed that "Dolly Parton officially left the rights and royalties to 'Jolene' to Miley Cyrus in her will."

The post also attributed a statement to Parton saying, “The song became hers from the very first moment she sang it. She will always be my girl.”

Parton was Cyrus’ godmother, and the two had a close relationship for decades. Parton became Cyrus’ godmother after Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus, asked her to take the role before Miley was born in 1992. Parton later said she had known Miley since before her birth. 

Although they never had a formal ceremony, their relationship grew over the years, with Parton often serving as a mother-like figure to Cyrus.

The two also shared a strong musical connection. 'Jolene' is one of Parton’s most famous songs, and Cyrus has performed and covered it several times, including alongside Parton.

Parton and Cyrus are also reportedly distant relatives. They are seventh cousins once removed through a shared ancestor, according to Ancestry research. 

Their close personal and musical relationship has led to speculation about Parton’s estate following her death, particularly over her music catalog and possible inheritance.

Fact Check: The claim is false

The claim is false. There is no credible evidence that Dolly Parton left the rights and royalties to 'Jolene' to Miley Cyrus in her will. The quote attributed to Parton, “The song became hers from the very first moment she sang it. She will always be my girl,” also has no verified source.

No public copy of Parton’s will, trust documents or probate records has identified her beneficiaries or explained how she planned to distribute her music catalog. Reports and fact-checks have found no confirmation that Cyrus inherited Parton’s catalog, publishing rights or any specific songs.

The speculation may have grown because Parton and Cyrus shared a close godmother-goddaughter relationship, and Parton and her late husband, Carl Dean, had no children. However, being Parton’s goddaughter does not automatically give Cyrus inheritance rights.

Searches for the alleged quote also found no credible source connecting it to Parton’s will or any official statement. The quote appears to have been fabricated for the viral post. There is currently no public evidence that Parton left 'Jolene' or its royalties to Cyrus.