Most knew her as Dolly Parton. Many millennials and Gen Z, though, were introduced to her as Miley Stewart’s Aunt Dolly.
The queen of country had made a name for herself far before she ever cameoed on a young Miley Cyrus‘ budding new Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. By 2006, she’d already won seven Grammy Awards, picked up her two Academy Award nominations and earned two Billboard Hot 100 hits.
But for a younger generation (Gen Z and some Millennials, that is), the sitcom was the first time they were greeted to the likes of the one and only Dolly Parton, Cyrus’ real-life godmother. Cyrus herself posted a tribute to her godmother on Wednesday, writing that “I will always love her and want to make her proud.”
Parton died Tuesday at 80, following a “brief battle with cancer,” her reps told People. Amid her death, a wave of tributes were penned by celebrities, including Cyrus’ father and Hannah Montana co-star Billy Ray Cyrus.
“I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start. Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TV’s, right in our living rooms,” he wrote on Instagram. “Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart. I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will.”
The two-time Oscar nominee’s death has also evoked a wave of nostalgia for Hannah Montana fans. “An entire generation was introduced to Dolly Parton through ‘Hannah Montana.’ rip to an icon,” one user wrote on X. As another user added: “The first time I ever saw Dolly Parton was on Hannah Montana series, and I have loved her ever since. Posting one of my favorite video of her today. Rest well, legend queen.”
As Aunt Dolly, Parton appeared in only three episodes; the first in season one, episode 16 in 2006, entitled “Good Golly, Miss Dolly,” where she appeared to help Cyrus’ onscreen Miley navigate boy troubles. One of her most iconic scenes from that episode occurs when a stunt double steps in to do a series of back handsprings and the worm, while appearing to be Parton herself. After the trick, she recited the beloved line: “Girls, I don’t just rock. I roll!”
Emily Osment, Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton in Hannah Montana.
Byron Cohen / ©Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett Collection
She popped up again in season two’s 20th episode, “I Will Always Loathe You” (get it?), where Aunt Dolly quarrels with Miley’s Mamaw Ruthie (Vicki Lawrence), as they’re both in town to see her receive a music award.
Parton’s last Hannah Montana visit was during the fourth and final installment’s 11th episode, just two episodes before the series finale. Hannah’s identity had been revealed at that point, and Aunt Dolly popped up to save her from the paparazzi.
Though they were few, Parton made her mark on Hannah Montana, while also entering the conscience of many young viewers at the time. And Parton herself was aware that Hannah Montana reacquainted her to a brand-new set of eyes.
In a 2023 cover for The Hollywood Reporter, the “Jolene” singer said Cyrus “really made me a lot of new fans that follow me to this day because of her, when she put me on the Hannah Montana show, all those little kids now have grown up and they’ve followed Aunt Dolly all these years.”
Dolly Parton in Hannah Montana.
Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett Collection
“From the bottom of my heart, I’m really proud proud of you, I’ve always been proud of you, and I’m proud to be your fairy godmother. And you know, one thing that touches me most of all is when you had me on the Hannah Montana show back years ago, you really helped my career, you introduced me to whole new set fans, young ones,” she also told Cyrus in a resurfaced clip. “Of course, they’re not as young as they used to be!”
In 2022, Parton herself commemorated her first appearance on the beloved Disney Channel series. She wrote, alongside a photo of herself and Cyrus, “Wow! 16 years since my first appearance on Hannah Montana with my sweet @mileycyrus. Time flies!”
Parton will be remembered for much more than Hannah Montana, but the show set her undeniable bond with Cyrus in television stone while also presenting her outlasting legacy to Gen Z and everyone younger.
Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton in ‘Hannah Montana.’
Eric McCandless / © Disney Channel / Courtesy Everett Collection
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