HANNAH MONTANA – “I Will Always Loathe You” – Miley is being awarded Female Artist of the Year and has invited the two most influential women in her life to be there when she accepts it. The only problem is that these women - Mamaw and Aunt Dolly – have been feuding for years and can’t stand each other. It’s up to Miley to show them how ridiculous they look always bickering with each other, on “Hannah Montana,” FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. (Photo by Joel Warren/Disney Channel via Getty Images) MILEY CYRUS, DOLLY PARTON – BEHIND THE SCENES
Disney Channel via Getty Images
Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, but her legacy lives on.
From her backwoods roots in Tennessee to being the Dreamer-in-Chief of her namesake theme park, Dollywood, the iconic American singer touched nearly every corner of pop culture for over 60 years. This also includes her work with The Walt Disney Company.
For nearly 40 years, Parton partnered with Disney for a host of events, specials and movie and TV appearances.
Millennials know her as “Aunt Dolly,” the wonderfully kooky character from Hannah Montana, which starred Parton’s real-life goddaughter, Disney Legend Miley Cyrus, as a normal girl by day and a pop star by night.
Throughout the four-season series, Parton had a cameo
Throughout the four-season series, Parton had a cameo three times, in season one’s “Good Golly, Miss Dolly” episode, in season two’s “I Will Always Loathe You,” and season four’s “Kiss It All Goodbye” episode.
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But acting wasn’t the only thing Parton taught Cyrus. In a March 2026 interview with Variety, Cyrus said, “I learned this terrible habit — but I actually think it was good advice — from Dolly. 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.”
Cyrus and Parton also appeared on stage together
Cyrus and Parton also appeared on stage together after Hannah Montana ended, on shows like The Voice, the Grammy Awards and a New Year’s Eve special.
But before her Disney Channel debut, Parton appeared with Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck on ABC’s Walt Disney World’s 15th Birthday Celebration special in 1986.
During the program, Parton performed her hit Grammy Award-winning song “9 to 5.” Parton’s partnership with ABC would continue over the years, with the 1986 A Smoky Mountain Christmas special and a season-long variety show, Dolly, in 1987, which featured a guest appearance by Miss Piggy from The Muppets.
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Since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019,
Since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, much of Parton’s filmography, including 9 to 5, which she starred in alongside Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, and Rhinestone with Sylvester Stallone, has been folded into the Disney family. Parton even made a guest voice appearance on The Simpsons, which Disney now owns, in 1999.
In a collaborative Instagram post, DisneyD23 and The Walt Disney Archives shared, “We are heartbroken by the news of Dolly Parton’s passing. Parton was a musician, actress, performer, philanthropist, and treasured member of the Disney family. Gracing Disney fans with her performances in several film and TV appearances, including Hannah Montana, Parton’s immense talent and kindness shined bright. Our thoughts are with her loved ones during this time.”
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Source: www.forbes.com
