Miley Cyrus has paid tribute to her godmother, Dolly Parton, after the country music icon’s reported death at the age of 80. Cyrus said their most meaningful memories were private, but described Parton as a lasting presence in her life and said she wanted to make her proud; the tribute reflects Parton’s close personal and professional relationship with the Cyrus family.

Parton’s team said she died on 25 August after a brief battle with cancer, prompting tributes from musicians, actors and political figures. Cyrus and Parton collaborated several times, including on Parton’s 2020 Christmas album and at Cyrus’s 2022 New Year’s Eve show; beyond music, Parton’s Imagination Library has distributed 300 million books to children worldwide.