Billy Ray Cyrus remembers Dolly Parton after her shock death

Billy Ray Cyrus has broken his silence in the wake of country superstar Dolly Parton's death with a moving tribute.

He even addressed the duo's rumored affair in the '90s when he was just breaking into the music and entertainment industry.

Dolly passed away on August 25, which is also Billy Ray's birthday, at age 80, following a brief battle with cancer.

She had dealt with several health issues including kidney problems, in the last year of her life, particularly since the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025.

Billy Ray took to Instagram to pay tribute to his late friend, who served as the godmother of his daughter, Miley Cyrus.

"I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it's hard to know where to start. Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton. She was a part of our lives, on our TVs, right in our living rooms," he wrote, alongside a carousel of photos of the pair.

"In 1992, I'll never forget walking into her dressing room to apologize for all the tabloid stories which claimed I was having an affair with her. In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said, 'Honey, this trash sells records!'" he continued.

"Dolly recently sent me a beautiful message, telling me she loved me with her whole heart. I will always love her in the same way…with my whole heart…and I always will," Billy concluded.