BILLY Ray Cyrus has shared an emotional tribute to his close friend Dolly Parton and recalled a funny story about apologising for “having an affair with her”.
The 80-year-old country superstar died on Tuesday after suffering from a string of health issues in recent months.
Billy Ray Cyrus has shared an emotional tribute to Dolly Parton Credit: Getty
He recalled a story where he apologised for ‘having an affair with her’ Credit: Getty
Billy Ray, 65, posted the touching tribute to social media saying Dolly had recently “sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart.”
The tribute read: “I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start.
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“Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TV’s, right in our living rooms.
“In 1992, I’ll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologize for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her.
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The pair were close friends with Dolly godmother to his daughter Miley Cyrus Credit: Getty
It was announced on Tuesday that the legendary country singer had died, aged 80 Credit: Getty
It comes as:
“In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, “Honey, this trash sells records!”
“Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart. I will always love her in the same way ….. with my whole heart … and I always will.”
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Billy Ray and Dolly had been close friends since “Achy Breaky Heart” soared to the top of the charts in the early 1990s, catapulting the singer to superstardom.
He would later ask the Queen of Country to be godmother to his daughter, pop superstar Miley Cyrus.
Tributes have also flooded in from other celebrity friends and fans after news of Dolly’s death shook the world.
Sir Elton John said he was “devastated” to hear about Dolly death, saying: “A giant of an artist – unique and irreplaceable, with the kindest heart.”
Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger said: “What a wonderful songwriter and singer Dolly was. She brought so many people together, we will all miss her so much.”
Jane Fonda, Dolly’s 9 to 5 co-star told fans “I am devastated” in a touching message to the country legend.
Billy Ray said he ‘will always love’ Dolly Credit: Getty
Dolly performed Jolene with goddaughter Miley Cyrus at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in 2019 Credit: AP
Sir Rod Stewart, Khloe Kardashian, Sharon Osbourne and a host of other celebrities also paid tribute while President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-mast in her honour.
Dolly’s nephew Bryan Seaver announced her death in a heartbreaking statement on her official Instagram page Tuesday afternoon, shocking her fans worldwide.
The beloved singer died in the hospital on Tuesday morning, and her cause of death has yet to be released.
She had been struggling with her health for some time before her death.
Dolly spoke with PEOPLE on Friday admitting she had recently been through “hard times” with her health.
She was forced to bow out of numerous scheduled gigs planned for 2025 and earlier this year.
But during her last public appearance, Dolly appeared upbeat at the unveiling of her new Nashville truck stop.
And just one week before her death, she shared about her excitement to open a new museum in her very last post.
Dolly Parton’s Career Highlights
DOLLY Parton is one of the most well-known country stars in the business, and her career has continued to flourish.
Here’s a look at the highlights of the music legend’s decades-long career…
Dolly wrote and released her first single, Puppy Love, including the B-track Girl Left Alone, on Goldband Records when she was 11 years old.
Although her single wasn’t a big hit, she ended up performing at Nashville, Tennessee’s Grand Ole Opry for the first time at 13 years old and was introduced by Johnny Cash.
Dolly made the Billboard country charts in January 1967 with two singles from Monument Records: Dumb Blonde and Something Fishy.
The singer earned her first number-one hit in 1971 with her single Joshua.
In 1974, Dolly’s arguably most well-known song, Jolene, reached number one on the country charts.
Her music continued to succeed, and she was awarded the Female Vocalist of the Year award at the CMAs in 1975.
Dolly’s track, Here You Come Again, achieved platinum status in 1978, and the album earned her a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
In 1980, Dolly starred in her first film, 9 to 5, alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda and released her hit song of the same name.
The star opened her famed amusement park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in 1986.
Later that year, she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
At 75 years old, Dolly recreated her 1978 Playboy Cover for her husband Carl Dean’s birthday.
In May 2022, it was announced that Dolly would officially be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside Eminem, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, and Pat Benatar.
