Dolly Parton Saved Miley Cyrus from Drugs & Death
Miley Cyrus has publicly credited her godmother, Dolly Parton, for saving her from a path of drugs and potential death by dishing out tough love when she needed it most.
Parton’s influence on Cyrus goes beyond just their family connection. Cyrus has spoken about how Parton’s personality and outlook on life have shaped her own approach to making mistakes and living authentically.
One key lesson Cyrus learned from Parton is the importance of not taking oneself too seriously. Cyrus shared, “One thing about her, though, is that she isn’t afraid to laugh at herself, and that’s something I think she has tried to instill in me. Not everything has to be serious; it’s OK to laugh at yourself.”
In a candid interview in June 2025, Cyrus opened up about the extent of her drug use before she decided to become sober. She revealed how she would hide her spending on drugs by telling her accountant that she was purchasing vintage clothing instead.
Describing the elaborate ruse, Cyrus said, “We called (the drugs) ‘vintage clothes’ and every time (my accountant) saw me, she’d be like, ‘Where’s that $15,000 original John Lennon T-shirt that you bought?’ It’s like, ‘Oh, it’s upstairs.’ So I bought a lot of vintage clothes that year.”
Despite the lighthearted tone of her anecdote, Cyrus reflected on the seriousness of her past behavior and expressed gratitude for making it through that challenging period of her life. She acknowledged, “I would definitely not encourage anyone else to go this hard. But the fact that I got through it. I’m very glad I got to do it.”
Through Parton’s tough love and guidance, Cyrus was able to turn her life around and emerge stronger and more resilient. Their bond serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that love and support can have on someone struggling with personal demons.
