Miley Cyrus has always had a complicated history with Aug. 25, a date that has marked some of the biggest moments in her personal life and career. Now, the day carries an even more painful meaning following the death of her beloved godmother, Dolly Parton.

Parton died on Aug. 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Her death came just days after she had reportedly been dealing with serious health problems. For Cyrus, the date was already tied to major turning points long before she had to associate it with the loss of someone she considered family.

In 2024, Cyrus explained why she chose Aug. 25, 2023, as the release date for her song Used to Be Young.

“I decided to release Used to Be Young on Aug. 25 because this particular date historically has been important to me personally and in my career,” she said during her ABC special Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions).

At the time, the date carried several different memories for the singer.

On Aug. 25, 2010, Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth reportedly experienced one of the earliest breakups in their relationship. Three years later, on Aug. 25, 2013, Cyrus released Wrecking Ball, one of the defining songs of her career. The same day also became unforgettable because of her controversial performance with Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Music Awards.

There is another family connection to the date. Aug. 25 is also the birthday of Cyrus’ father, Billy Ray Cyrus.

But perhaps the most important connection to Aug. 25 was Dolly Parton.

Parton had been part of Cyrus’ life since before she was born. Billy Ray and Parton became close after touring together in the early 1990s, and Billy Ray eventually asked the country legend to become Miley’s godmother after her birth in 1992.

Parton later recalled how the request happened.

“He said, ‘We’re having a girl, and you’ve got to be her godmother!’ And I said, ‘Well, I’d be honored,’” Parton once shared.

From there, Parton and Cyrus developed a bond that went far beyond a traditional godmother relationship. Cyrus affectionately called her “Aunt Dolly,” while Parton often spoke about Miley with the warmth of a proud mother figure.

“Dolly’s been like a mother to me,” Cyrus said in a 2024 interview with W Magazine.

That bond also became part of their professional lives. Parton appeared several times as “Aunt Dolly” on Hannah Montana, sharing scenes with Cyrus between 2006 and 2011.

The pair also performed together at the 2019 Grammy Awards and co-hosted NBC’s Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party in 2023. They continued working together through music as well, including their collaboration on Wrecking Ball for Parton’s 2023 album Rockstar.

Their relationship remained deeply personal even when the cameras were off.

Cyrus recently shared that one of her final conversations with Parton was about music and transformation. In her first tribute after Parton’s death, she described the private moments they shared as some of their most sacred memories.

She also said she believed Parton would want her to turn her grief into music and keep moving forward.

“I will always love her and want to make her proud,” Cyrus wrote.

For Cyrus, Aug. 25 has always carried memories of change, success, family and heartbreak. Now, the date will forever remind her of the loss of one of the most important people in her life.

And while the meaning of the day has changed forever, Parton’s influence on Cyrus is likely to live on through the music, memories and love they shared for more than three decades.