Emotional Over Miley Cyrus' Personal Reason For Paying Tribute To Dolly Parton At Her First Big Concert In Years

Miley Cyrus brought a deeply personal tribute to Dolly Parton during her first major concert in four years at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday night. Cyrus, who said she lost her “fairy” godmother after Parton’s death at 80 this summer, explained to an audience of more than 17,000 why she chose to bring Parton up during the show. She recalled that when she was a teenager, Parton urged her to sit in her seat and watch her own Bowl performance, responding “OK, Miley,” which Cyrus said never meant just “OK.” Cyrus then performed “Jolene,” with the speech leaving her visibly emotional. Cyrus returns to the Bowl Sunday, and ABC will air a Dolly Parton celebratory special on October 21, 2026.