Noah Cyrus Breaks Silence on Dolly Parton’s Death, Saying She Wanted the “First Words You Heard to Come from Miley”

Miley Cyrus’s sister, Noah Cyrus, has released an emotional tribute to late country legend Dolly Parton, who recently passed away at the age of 80. In a statement posted to Instagram, Noah explained that she waited to say something until Miley—who was Dolly’s goddaughter—had spoken out.“i wanted the first words you heard to come from miley, and now that she’s spoken, i’d like to share a few words about dolly,” Noah wrote. “dolly was singular, one of a kind. dolly was a rainbow to our world for nearly six decades, and no one could ever come nor will ever come close to replacing her. her impact on the world, and on me as an artist, is unparalleled. she was an angel among us who not only wrote songs that spoke to us all, but whose kindness, compassion, and empathy toward those who truly needed it were at the core of who dolly was.”Noah went on to say that Dolly “never forgot where she came from,” “never stopped being her true self,” and “made it her duty to help others, not only through her music, but through her kindness and her commitment to helping those in need.”She also spoke about Dolly’s “beautiful relationship” with the Cyrus family and Miley specifically, crediting the late country singer for “inspiring me to be who i am, wear those wigs, have those long nails, to write my stories, and to heal people through music.”Noah ended her tribute with, “i am heartbroken she is gone, but only physically. she came into this world, shared her light, and changed it forever. she will now live in our hearts, and her music will continue to be a friend when lonely, and to celebrate with happiness. it will inspire and encourage young songwriters that will discover and learn from the Great Dolly Parton. Dolly, you got your wings. we will ALWAYS love you. 🦋🦋🦋”