Still, the fact that fans immediately made the connection showed just how closely the two women’s identities had become intertwined in the public imagination.
Their relationship began long before Miley became famous.
Dolly’s connection with the Cyrus family stretched back to 1992, when Billy Ray was experiencing enormous success with “Achy Breaky Heart.”Photographic & Digital Arts
Dolly met Billy Ray around that period and later took him on tour as an opening act.
Their friendship grew, and by the time Miley was born in November 1992, Dolly was already close to the family.
Dolly later recalled deciding that Miley simply had to become her “fairy goddaughter.”
That bond continued throughout Miley’s childhood.
When Hannah Montana turned her into an international teenage star, Dolly appeared on the Disney series as Aunt Dolly, allowing audiences to see a playful version of the relationship the two shared away from cameras.
As Miley grew older, however, their connection developed into something deeper than a famous godmother appearing alongside her celebrity goddaughter.
