Dolly Parton discovered that she and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus are blood relatives.
The 78-year-old Jolene hitmaker, who recently admitted whether she thinks Beyoncé is a country star, was told during an interview with Access to Hollywoodby that she and the Wrecking Ball singer are distant cousins, after Ancestry was able to trace their ancestry.
“Is that true? That’s amazing!” she said, reacting to the news. “Well, we’re so close, Miley and I. I would have thought we’d be at least third cousins, 10 times removed.
“I’m sure she’ll love it, but I’m not surprised because it does feel like family,” she said of the 31-year-old former Disney Channel employee.
Ancestry, a genealogy company, confirmed that the two land legends are seventh cousins, once removed in a press release on monday.
Dolly Parton discovered Tuesday that she and her goddaughter Miley Cyrus are blood relatives; seen in June 2024
“Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus are 7th cousins, once removed! Their common ancestor is John Brickey, born 1740 in Virginia,” the Utah-based company said.
The phrase “once removed” is used to describe a family relationship where there is a generation gap between two people.
“He later moved with his wife and children to Blount County, Tennessee and remained there until his death in 1806. The Brickey family originally came from France and the family came to the United States in the late 1600s,” Ancestry said of their common relative.
Genetically, Brickey is Dolly’s 6th great-great-grandfather and Miley’s 7th great-great-grandfather.
Both Dolly and Miley have strong ties to Tennessee and have collaborated several times over the years.
The 9 to 5 singer first appeared on Miley’s hit series Hannah Montana during the first season in an episode that aired on September 29, 2006. She played Hannah’s (Miley) godmother on the series and was also referred to as Aunt Dolly.
She reprised her role in a season two episode that aired on December 7, 2007.
Dolly made her third and final appearance on the show in a season four episode that aired on December 19, 2010.
The duo also rang in the new year together when they co-hosted Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party 2023 and performed together in December 2022.
And Miley’s famous cover of Jolene isn’t the only time she’s swapped songs with her godmother.
Ancestry, a genealogy company, confirmed in a press release Monday that the two national legends are seventh cousins; Miley and Dolly were seen in February 2019
Both Dolly and Miley have strong ties to Tennessee and have worked together several times over the years; Miley’s father Billy Ray, Dolly and Miley seen in February 2019
Dolly covered Miley’s 2013 mega-hit Wrecking Ball for her forty-ninth solo studio album, which was released in November of last year
Dolly covered Miley’s 2013 mega-hit Wrecking Ball for her forty-ninth solo studio album, which was released in November of last year.
In June, it was announced that a musical inspired by the life and career of the I Will Always Love You singer was in the works: Hello, I’m Dolly.
The musical is coming to Broadway in 2026. Performance dates have not yet been announced.