Miley Cyrus breaks down in tears during emotional tribute to Dolly Parton at Hollywood Bowl show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Miley Cyrus paid an emotional tribute to late country legend, Dolly Parton, during her Hollywood Bowl show on Friday, October 16.
The pop star broke down in tears as she remembered her beloved godmother before delivering a touching performance of Parton’s evergreen hit, ‘Jolene.’
Miley Cyrus shares Hollywood Bowl memory with Dolly Parton
Speaking to the crowd, Cyrus recalled how one of the only times she could watch Parton performing live was at the Hollywood Bowl. She told the audience how Parton wanted Cyrus to join her onstage, but the latter told her “Aunt Dolly” that she would like to enjoy the show as a fan from her seat instead.
“If she had it her way, and she was playing a show, I’d be standing right beside her in a matching costume. And so when I was coming to the show at the Bowl to see her, I said, you know, ‘I would love a night where I can just experience you. I can just enjoy you like the rest of the world has gotten to,’” Cyrus recalled.
While Parton agreed to the request and said, “Okay, Miley,” in response, she ended up opening the show with Cyrus’ hit track from ‘Hannah Montana’ titled ‘The Best of Both Worlds.’ “All of a sudden, Dolly enters, but I hear ‘The Best of Both Worlds.’ Yeah, Dolly opened performing Hannah Montana,” the singer shared.
“But that’s just not the end of that story,” she continued. “And she goes, like a proud aunt, ‘I don’t know if y’all know this, but my goddaughter is Hannah Montana, and she’s actually here tonight, but she’s sitting out in her seat. She didn’t want anyone to bug her. She said she just wanted to watch the show,’ which defeated the entire purpose of the conversation that we had just had,” Cyrus remembered.
“Absolutely no one was aware that I was at the concert until she drew an obnoxious amount of attention to it,” she stated, adding, “But like so many things Dolly did, I didn’t understand at the time.”
Miley Cyrus says her bond with Dolly Parton is ‘eternal’
The ‘Flowers’ singer further shared that she could feel Parton’s presence during her own Hollywood Bowl show. “Sitting here with you all right now, feeling her all around me, knowing that she’s right here beside me, every day, more than she could be when she was here; I feel her more now than ever,” she said.
“Knowing that I get to share this story with you all, it makes that night very worth it. This memory is gold to me. Me and Dolly, we are eternal. Nothing in this life could ever tear us apart, and I’m gonna see her again,” Cyrus added.
“Some of the greatest music that we have today was written, produced, performed by my Aunt Dolly, and this is one of those songs,” an emotional Cyrus said before delivering a heartfelt rendition of ‘Jolene.’
Cyrus also performed her hit song ‘Wrecking Ball’ later in the show and held a photo of Parton in a heart-shaped frame during the performance. She shared that the track was Parton’s favorite in Cyrus’ discography, so she had “bring her with me.”
