Watch: Billy Ray Cyrus Details Getting “Beautiful” Message From Dolly Parton Before Her Death
Billy Ray Cyrus is remembering the heart of a woman—namely, his late friend Dolly Parton.
One month after the country legend’s death, the Hannah Montana star shared a heartwarming letter written by Parton in 1992, a keepsake that he called “one of my most prized possessions.”
“Billy, I’m glad to be working with you. I’ve been looking forward to it for a few weeks now. I’m proud of what’s going on with you,” the late 80-year-old penned as seen in Cyrus’ Sept. 25 post. “I too think you are special. I wish you even more in the years to come.”
At the time, Cyrus and Parton had just begun their decades-long relationship—which would ultimately lead to him naming her godmother to his daughter Miley Cyrus—that started when the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer stopped by her dressing room and would continue as they recorded their 1993 hit song “Romeo.”
“I’m sorry I stammered and blushed when I met you,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee teased in her message, “but I’m just like all the other girls these days (just a little older).”
As such, Parton was thankful that the then-upcoming country music heartthrob had autographed photos for her nieces and offered, “Same goes if you need anything. Love Dolly.”
And the 65-year-old added in the caption that he displayed the note next to a handwritten letter from Johnny Cash, explaining, “To me they go together…Brother Cash and Sister Parton. They are the hearts and minds of two of my heroes that both took the time to express their most personal and sincere thoughts to an ole Kentucky Boy.”
He went on to reminisce about his enduring bond with Parton, who died Aug. 25 after a private battle with cancer.
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“So many memories and moments with Dolly, from network television specials to Hannah Montana,” Cyrus continued. “More than 30 years later, we’d do our last song together, ‘Christmas Where We Are.'”
Cyrus signed off from the post, “Shine on, Dolly.”
Keep reading to see more stars’ words about how touched they were by Parton.
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“Later she shot a promo for her NBC Christmas special,” he continued, “and when she got on a stool wearing her short skirt she said to the audience, ‘I gotta be careful or else I’m gonna show y’all my box office!'”The former Saturday Night Live member praised Parton’s joke.”Too dirty for church, too clean for the bar,” he added. “Just like her, it was just right. What a light.”
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“If there’s someone you wanna look up to and model your life after, it’s Dolly,” Perry concluded. “Dolly was glam, funny, and kind as fuck. Her star will forever shine bright and I bet you she’s already remodeling them pearly gates with rhinestones.”
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