Miley Cyrus Honors Dolly Parton at Hollywood Bowl: 'Nothing in This Life Could Ever Tear Us Apart'

Miley Cyrus performed "Jolene" in honor of her late godmother Dolly Parton at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, in her first major show in years.

Cyrus told the audience that Parton partly inspired her to play the venue: it was where she watched her godmother perform. She then broke into an extended, emotional tribute.

"Like so many things Dolly did that I didn't understand at the time, sitting here with you all right now, feeling her all around me, knowing that she's right here beside me every day, all the time, more than she could be when she was here, I feel her more than ever," Cyrus said. "This memory is gold to me. Me and Dolly, we are eternal. Nothing in this life could ever tear us apart. And I'm going to see her again, and I can't fucking wait because I miss her."

She followed the speech with "Jolene," the country standard Parton first released in 1974.

"Some of the greatest music that we have today was written, produced and performed by my aunt Dolly," Cyrus said. "This is one of those moments."

What do we know about Parton's death?

Parton died Aug. 25 after what her family described as a "brief battle" with cancer. The family's official obituary framed her legacy in unusually expansive terms:

• "A rhinestone life that shone bright enough for the world to see"
• "With a seven-decade career, she inspired multiple generations of artists and fans"
• "Her songs will continue to resonate with people of all ages, and her philanthropic work will have a lasting impact"

The obituary credited Parton's "wit, warmth, and kindness" alongside her "timeless music and prolific songwriting," and called her legacy "one of love, compassion, and resilience."

What has Cyrus said before this?

The Hollywood Bowl speech was not Cyrus's first public grieving. After Parton's death, Cyrus posted a tribute on Instagram.

"The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they'll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts," Cyrus wrote. "What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong. I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis."

That last line is worth watching. Cyrus pointed to music as her chosen medium for mourning before she ever stepped on stage Friday. A recorded tribute, in some form, now looks less like a possibility than an expectation — though neither Cyrus nor her representatives have confirmed any release.