Was Dolly Parton Actually Related to Goddaughter Miley Cyrus? As a Matter of Fact, Yes!

Dolly Parton was and will forever be one of the most prominent figures in pop culture, and the fact that Dolly was Miley Cyrus’s godmother was truly a gift that kept on giving. A few highlights: Dolly’s stint on Hannah Montana, Miley introducing Dolly’s fan-favorite track “Jolene” to a whole new generation, and the pair joining forces to host a New Year’s Eve special and perform “Wrecking Ball” in 2023. Oh, and of course, we can’t forget that they both appeared on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter.TL;DR: Miley and Dolly’s impact will live on after Dolly’s death—and aside from being an iconic godmother-goddaughter duo, they were, indeed, actually related.NBC//Getty ImagesAccording to a 2024 report of Ancestry.com, Miley and Dolly were seventh cousins, once removed, meaning their cowboy boots and southern roots go waaay back. Here’s the breakdown: In the 1700s, Dolly’s sixth great-grandfather and Miley’s seventh great-grandfather, John Brickey, lived within a 20-mile radius from what we currently know and love as Dollywood in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains. Per the report, Brickey was born in Virginia and later moved to Blount County, Tennessee with his wife and children.Dolly had the sweetest reaction to the news at the time, telling Access Hollywood, “Is that true? That’s amazing!” She went on to joke, “Well, we’re so close, Miley and I. I would’ve thought we’d at least be third cousins...ten times removed.”As a reminder: Dolly formed a close bond with Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, while touring with him in the early ’90s, which is how she eventually became Miley’s godmother.“We just got to be good friends because he’s a Kentucky boy, I’m from Tennessee,” she explained during a 2023 appearance on The Howard Stern Show. “And he said, ‘We’re having a girl, and you’ve got to be her godmother!’ And I said, ‘Well, I’d be honored.’ So actually, Miley and I took over from there. We just stayed very, very close through the years.”Miley has often gushed about her connection with her godmother/seventh cousin once removed, even telling W Magazine in 2024, “Dolly’s been like a mother to me.”The “9 to 5” singer echoed her sentiment during an interview with the London Evening Standard the year before, saying, “Miley became my goddaughter; I was her fairy godmother. We really have a true bond; she is like a daughter to me.”More like cousins, but they share a beautiful bond nonetheless.