Miley Cyrus has shared how her godmother, Dolly Parton, taught her the “terrible habit” of manifesting things that don’t exist, which has ultimately worked out in the 33-year-old’s favor.
The “Adore You” singer described one of the things she learned from Parton during an interview with Variety, published Wednesday. Cyrus noted that when she started publicly teasing plans last year for the 20th anniversary of her hit show, Hannah Montana, there wasn’t actually anything in the works.
“I learned this terrible habit — but I actually think it was good advice — from Dolly,” she said about her 80-year-old godmother, who postponed a string of concerts last year to undergo unspecified medical treatment. “She told me that if you want something to happen, promote it before it exists. Then no one can say no. So I just started promoting a Hannah Montana 20th-anniversary special that literally did not exist.”
“I think even Disney sometimes forgets the connection between me and Hannah,” the Disney Channel alum added. “It’s not just a TV show. I see daily how important Hannah is to people. When I travel, people bring me ‘Hannah’ merch. They ask, ‘Are you ever going to do another season?’”
Indeed, it seems the power of manifestation worked out for Cyrus, whose Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special is airing March 24 on Disney +. Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the special will feature an exclusive interview with Cyrus, hosted by Call Her Daddy podcaster Alex Cooper, as well as never-before-seen footage from the series.
Although it’s not clear if Parton, who played Cyrus’s on-screen aunt in the Disney Channel show, will be in the special, both of the “Flowers” singer’s parents are slated to make appearances.
Cyrus has previously shared words of wisdom from her godmother. During a Q&A session at an intimate screening of her album, Something Beautiful, in May, she was asked about the best advice she received in her career, according to Billboard.
She responded by doing an impression of the “Jolene” singer and saying: “You do you, I’ll do me, and together we’ll be us…I can’t be giving you, and you can’t be giving me … We all just need to be ourselves.”
Cyrus then shared how that advice helped her understand the difference between being understood and admired. “I don’t love the word ‘idol,’ because it feels like something you’re worshipping and I don’t want or need to be worshipped,” she said. “I just want to be loved like everyone else.”
The “Wrecking Ball” singer also gave an update in December about her godmother, who faced a series of health issues while grieving her late husband, Carl Thomas Dean. Parton’s husband of 58 years died in March 2025 at age 82.
“She’s always gonna keep the show going,” Cyrus told Entertainment Tonight. “The show must go on. She’s just excited to get back to work.”
Parton made her first public appearance in months last Friday, giving a keynote speech at her Tennessee theme park, Dollywood, where she spoke about her health.
“I’ve not been touring, as you know,” Parton told the audience. “I’ve had a few little health issues, and we’re taking good care of them. I just kind of got worn down and worn out, grieving over Carl and a lot of other little things going on. But, all is good. It didn’t slow me down.”
