Dolly Parton says that goddaughter Miley Cyrus was always bound for stardom

Dolly Parton knew goddaughter Miley Cyrus was bound for stardom.

The country queen, 74,  talked about how the Midnight Sky singer, 28, always had something special while talking to RuPaul for this month’s issue of Marie Claire.

‘I’ve always loved her, since she was little, and I knew she was special. She just had a light about her. Her sparkle, and her smile, and her eyes were always full of wonder.’ 

Dolly said she first realized Miley was a born entertainer while starring on Hannah Montana.

‘When she was on that little show, I saw what great timing she had, what a great little comedian she was.’

The Jolene singer said that Cyrus, the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, had music chops from the start: ‘I’d always known her to write her little songs on her little left-handed guitar. I guess Billy Ray is the lefty.’

‘And so she just kind of grew up with us. With Billy and me—Billy Ray, her dad, we were friends and we worked a lot together, doing shows together, traveling some. But I just knew she was just going to make it. I just knew she was a star.’

Dolly said that while she’s been too busy with work to watch Miley’s sultry Midnight Sky music video, she said she was proud of her goddaughter for being a risk-taker. 

‘I think she’s great. She’s out there, and I love that she takes her chances. I love that she’s true to herself and that she’s willing to try new things and do whatever.’

But asked if she regrets not being able to be as provocative as the Malibu singer, Parton said: ‘No, I never needed to be that wild. But I think it’s fine for her. I’m kind of wild in my own way. I have my own little things, and I’m an individual, and I think that’s what that’s about too. 

‘We all need to be true to ourselves, and I think that’s what she’s doing. I think that’s the key to everybody’s success as a human being and as an entertainer. You have to know what your talents are, what your limits are. But I think you have to be brave enough to try.’

‘One of my favorite sayings that I say about myself, that I made up, is that my desire to do something has always been greater than my fear of it,’ Dolly went on. ‘So I think that Miley often gets out there. She will get out there and get on that tightrope without a net underneath her. But how else are you going to know? She’ll take those chances. And I take chances too. We just do it in a different way. But I do think she’s a pro. I just think she’s so talented, and she’s beautiful.’

Miley and Dolly team their talents in the track Christmas Is off of Parton’s new holiday album A Holly Dolly Christmas. It also features collaborations with Jimmy Fallon, Michael Bublé, Miley’s dad Billy Ray and her younger brother Randy Parton.

Talking about making the album during a pandemic, the 9 To 5 songstress said: ‘We’ve just had such a wonderful array of stars and such a good time working on it. We weren’t able to get in the studio all at the same time. 

‘We had to do it like everybody’s doing it now anyway, recording music. You just put your part down, send all the files to somebody else. But it worked out really well, and I really like all the songs.’

Holly Dolly is available now. Marie Claire’s Holiday Issue with Dolly Parton is available on newsstands now.