Dolly Parton's death has left fans mourning one of country music's most recognisable stars. But alongside the tributes, a surprising claim about her famous song 'Jolene' has also taken over social media, with Miley Cyrus at the centre of it. A post on X claims Parton officially left the rights and royalties to her song 'Jolene' to Cyrus in her will.
Parton died in Nashville, Tennessee, on 25 August at the age of 80 following a brief battle with cancer. Her death was confirmed by her family, prompting heartfelt messages from musicians and fans around the world.
Miley Cyrus and the 'Jolene' Inheritance Claim
A video of Parton and Cyrus performing 'Jolene' together has resurfaced following Parton's death this week.
The clip was shared alongside a caption claiming: 'Dolly Parton officially left the rights and royalties to 'Jolene' to Miley Cyrus in her will.'
It also attributed these words to Parton: 'The song became hers from the very first moment she sang it. She will always be my girl.' However, the quote has not been verified by any reliable source.
The video itself is genuine, though. Parton and Cyrus performed 'Jolene' together at Dollywood on 3 July 2010, as part of celebrations marking the theme park's 25th anniversary.
🚨Dolly Parton officially left the rights and royalties to “Jolene” to Miley Cyrus in her will.
— Miley Stats (@StatsOnCyrus) August 26, 2026
— “The song became hers from the very first moment she sang it. She will always be my girl.” pic.twitter.com/1YSDNog3xN
The Truth Behind the Viral Post
According to The US Sun, there had been no court filings relating to Parton's will or official plans for her fortune at the time of its report. Tennessee records also showed that Parton had moved her Nashville estate into a new trust months before her death.
There is, however, some information about her late husband Carl Dean's estate. Dean died aged 82 in March 2025, and court documents showed that his estate was placed into the Carl Thomas Dean Trust, with Parton serving as trustee. The documents also contained provisions involving nieces and nephews if Parton had died before him.
Yet, those documents do not prove that Cyrus will inherit 'Jolene' or any part of Parton's music catalogue.
Parton leaves behind a vast music catalogue, business interests and other assets accumulated during a career spanning almost six decades. Reuters reported that she wrote around 3,000 songs and built a business empire that included a 50% stake in Dollywood, while her philanthropy became another major part of her legacy.
Recent estimates of Parton's fortune have varied considerably, with figures ranging from around $450 million to $650 million (£330 million to £470 million), although the final value of her estate has not been officially confirmed.
Inside Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus' Special Bond
This is where the viral claim gets its emotional appeal.
Dolly Parton was not simply a musical mentor to Miley Cyrus. She was her godmother, after Billy Ray Cyrus asked Parton to take on the role. Their relationship continued throughout Miley's childhood, career and rise to fame. Parton also appeared as Aunt Dolly on Miley's Disney Channel series Hannah Montana.
Their musical connection was just as memorable.
Miley frequently performed Parton's iconic 'Jolene', with the pair joining forces for the song during the 2019 Grammy Awards. They later performed a medley together during Miley's New Year's Eve Party in 2022. Then Parton recorded a version of Miley's Wrecking Ball for her 2023 album Rockstar.
Their collaborations also included Rainbowland, which featured Parton on Miley's 2017 album Younger Now.
Following Parton's death, Miley shared an emotional tribute to her godmother, describing her as an angel and reflecting on their final conversations about music.
