Miley Cyrus Recalls ‘Tough Conversation’ Where Dolly Parton Encouraged Her to Perform at 2024 Grammys

Miley Cyrus‘ show-stopping performance of “Flowers” on the 2024 Grammy Awards may not have happened if it weren’t for a little encouragement from Dolly Parton.

The pop star, 31, opened up about her tight-knit relationship with the 78-year-old country icon during a new episode of Netflix’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman — and detailed a recent “tough conversation” they had.

“I don’t remember our first meeting, I was so young. My dad and her worked together in the ‘90s. They had music together and I think my dad even toured with her,” Cyrus told host David Letterman, 77, of the “Jolene” singer.

Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus in Los Angeles in February 2019. KEVIN WINTER/GETTY 

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Parton is Cyrus’ godmother — a role she also portrayed on Hannah Montana, which the “Party in the U.S.A.” musician considered a marker that the titular character “seeped into who I really am.”

At the time, she didn’t “really know the difference” between herself and Hannah Montana. “Parts of me are that character, including a little bit of my relationship with Dolly,” said Cyrus.

“I mean, Hannah Montana is famous for wearing a blonde wig and kind of having this other persona that she can turn off and be a regular girl by day and have this superstar life at night,” she continued, “and I realize that’s something that Dolly has been doing pretty much her entire life.”

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton. VIJAT MOHINDRA/NBC VIA GETTY

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“Now, she’s always in the wig and she’s always in the Dolly,” added Cyrus. “It’s not about the external performance of her creating the character.”

The Grammy winner was then asked to share something surprising about Parton and said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member “really eats Dollywood food often — like, if she asks me what I want for lunch, it’s [from the theme park].”

For a more revealing anecdote, yet still one that wouldn’t interfere with “that sacred part of our relationship,” Cyrus said Parton “isn’t afraid to have the tough conversations.”