During the first night of a rare two-night live performance, Miley Cyrus cried on stage while sharing a memory of her godmother Dolly Parton.
Parton died two months ago after a brief battle with cancer. Her family announced her death on social media on Aug. 25.
"The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts," Cyrus wrote on Instagram weeks after Parton's death.
But Cyrus gave fans a glimpse into one of those "sacred moments" while performing at the Hollywood Bowl on Oct. 16.
The "Flowers" singer told the audience that there were a number of reasons she wanted to perform at the Hollywood Bowl, but above
all else, it was where she got to see Parton in concert for the first and only time.
Cyrus said that if Parton had it her way, Cyrus would have been on stage with the "9 to 5" singer, donning a matching outfit and performing alongside her. But Cyrus said that, just once, she wanted to be able to experience and enjoy Parton "like the rest of the world has gotten to."
That night, Parton opened with "The Best of Both Worlds," the theme song from Cyrus' Disney Channel sitcom "Hannah Montana." Parton appeared on three episodes of the show in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Cyrus said that, just like a "proud aunt," Parton announced that her goddaughter was "Hannah Montana." She joked that Parton's announcement defeated the purpose of Cyrus trying to just sit and enjoy the show.
"This memory is gold to me. Me and Dolly, we are eternal. Nothing in this life could ever tear us apart," Cyrus said at the end of her story.
Cyrus went on to perform a cover of Parton's "Jolene" before singing her own song, "Wrecking Ball," while clutching a picture of Parton.
Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton relationship
Parton's role on "Hannah Montana" as "Aunt Dolly" to "Miley Stewart" mirrored her real-life relationship with the star.
Cyrus followed in the footsteps of her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who is also a singer. He and Parton were good friends during their overlapping careers as country music stars, and before his daughter was born, he asked Parton to be her godmother.
Parton and Cyrus performed and acted together numerous times, and just as her character did in "Hannah Montana," Cyrus fondly called Parton her Aunt Dolly.
What is the Hollywood Bowl?
The Hollywood Bowlis an outdoor amphitheater nestled in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles.
The music venue has been open since 1922 and has hosted many famous performers across a number of genres.
Afton Pratt covers trending and breaking news for Knox News and Tennessee. She can be reached at ampratt@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Miley Cyrus shares emotional Dolly Parton memory at Hollywood Bowl
