Miley Cyrus has paid tribute to Dolly Parton, her godmother and longtime mentor, following Parton’s reported death. In an Instagram statement, Cyrus described her grief while saying Parton would have encouraged her to turn those feelings into music and remain strong, calling her “an angel by my side”.

The pair had a close personal and professional relationship: Parton became Cyrus’s godmother before her birth, played “Aunt Dolly” on Hannah Montana, and frequently performed with her. Cyrus has long cited Parton as a major role model, while the article says numerous artists and public figures also offered tributes after Parton’s brief battle with cancer.