Miley Cyrus speaks after Dolly Parton’s death: ‘I will always love her and want to make her proud’

( KTLA ) — Miley Cyrus has broken her silence on the passing of her godmother , Dolly Parton, posting a heartfelt tribute on social media.

“The feeling of losing my Aunt Dolly is beyond what feels right to share. Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour & between our hearts,” the “Wrecking Ball” singer wrote on Instagram . “What I KNOW is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong.”

“I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis,” she added.

The two Tennessee natives have long had a strong bond, which developed before Cyrus was even born. Parton toured with the pop singer’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus, in 1992 as he promoted his hit single “Achy Breaky Heart.”

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton behind-the-scenes on the set of “Hannah Montana.” (Photo by Joel Warren/Disney Channel via Getty Images)

During the tour, rumors were swirling in the tabloids that the two were romantically linked. When Cyrus approached Parton about it, she quipped , “Honey, that’s what sells records.”

“From that moment we became friends,” he told journalist Dan Rather.

About 15 years later, Parton famously played Aunt Dolly in “Hannah Montana,” and both Miley and the country superstar hit it off. From then on, the actor and singer referred to Dolly as her godmother and fairy godmother.

Over the past 20 years, they collaborated several times. In 2017, Parton appeared on Miley’s song “Rainbowland.” The 11-time Grammy winner also performed a cover of Miley’s “Wrecking Ball.”

Just seven months ago, she re-recorded her hit “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” in collaboration with Cyrus, Queen Latifah, Reba McEntire and Lainey Wilson.

The “Flowers” singer ended her online tribute by saying, “I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply. We’re in this loss together and we will see her in all of the most beautiful things.”

Parton passed away on Tuesday after a brief battle with cancer. Her death comes a little over a year after her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Thomas Dean, passed away.

She is survived by her numerous nieces and nephews, and several siblings.