Miley Cyrus has sparked an eerie fan theory following the death of her godmother Dolly Parton. The country music icon died on 25 August, the very date Cyrus once described as 'historically' important to her personally and professionally.
The coincidence has led some fans to revisit Cyrus' comments from 2023 and wonder whether she somehow 'predicted' Parton's death date. There is no evidence, but the timing has understandably left fans shaken given the pair's exceptionally close relationship.
Why Was 25 August Important to Cyrus?
In 2023, Cyrus deliberately chose 25 August as the release date for her reflective single Used To Be Young. At the time, she explained that the date had particular significance in both her personal life and career.
'I decided to release Used To Be Young on August 25th because this particular date historically has been important to me personally and in my career,' Cyrus said three years ago.
The date marked the 10th anniversary of two major moments in Cyrus' career: the release of her song Wrecking Ball and her headline-making appearance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards with Robin Thicke. Her performance, which included the now-famous twerking moment, became one of the most talked-about highlights of her career.
The date 25 August also marks the birthday of her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who was born in 1961.
That already made the date particularly personal for Miley. Now, following Parton's death on the same day, fans have noticed another deeply emotional connection.
further proof that @dollyparton and @mileycyrus are fairy godmother/goddaughter goals. ✨ pic.twitter.com/bC2slterz3
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) December 28, 2022
Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus' Special Bond
Dolly Parton was not simply another famous musician in Miley's life. She was her godmother and had known Miley since she was a baby.
Parton previously explained that she became Miley's godmother because of her friendship with Billy Ray. She recalled accepting the request and said she and Miley had remained 'very, very close' over the years.
'I love Miley. She's my little sweetheart,' Parton said during an interview on The Howard Stern Show in 2023.
Their bond also extended into their careers. Parton appeared on Hannah Montana, while the pair performed together and collaborated musically. They later recorded a new version of Miley's Wrecking Ball for Parton's 2023 album Rockstar.
Following news of Parton's death, fans immediately turned their attention to Miley, knowing how significant the country legend was to her.
One fan wrote that Miley was 'immediately the first person that came to mind' after seeing the news, adding: 'I hope and pray she's okay. My heart hurts so much for her and the families.'
Another fan expressed sympathy for Miley, saying they wanted to send her a private message despite not being close to her, adding: 'I can't imagine how heart broken she'll be.'
Dolly Parton Dies At 80
Dolly Parton died on 25 August 2026 at the age of 80. Her death was announced by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who shared an emotional video announcing the news and paying tribute to his aunt.
According to Parton's representatives, the singer died following a brief battle with cancer. The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed. People reported that Parton had been hospitalised on 21 August, just four days before her death.
Before her passing, Parton had spoken publicly about experiencing a decline in her health.". She had also cancelled planned appearances earlier in the year amid ongoing health concerns.
