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Legendary singer, actor, and businesswoman Dolly Parton is known for sharing her love for cooking and bestowing homemade goodies on co-stars and friends. But Parton says she no longer prepares food for one special person in her life. The star explains why she doesn’t cook for her goddaughter, Miley Cyrus

Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus’ special relationship

Dolly parton miley cyrus
Dolly Parton (L) and Miley Cyrus (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Though an official ceremony was never performed, both Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton call Parton Cyrus’ godmother, an arrangement orchestrated by the former’s father, Billy Ray Cyrus when she was born. Cyrus and Parton have remained close throughout her life. They’ve even performed together on stage. And Parton appeared on Miley Cyrus’ hit Disney Channel show, Hannah Montana.

Though from different eras, Parton speaks highly of Cyrus, commending her for taking the risks she has. Cyrus “will get out there and get on that tightrope without a net underneath her,” Parton told Marie Claire in 2020. “But how else are you going to know? She’ll take those chances.” 

And despite being in the music industry for a long time, Parton says she asks Cyrus for career advice, not the other way around. “Everybody says, ‘Do you give Miley advice?'” she told Us Weekly. “I said, ‘Nobody gives Miley advice.’ She’s [as] headstrong as I am, but we both respect each other.” 

Is Miley Cyrus on a special diet?

Cyrus was previously a vegan for both dietary and ethical reasons. The diet relies on nuts, tofu/tempeh, beans, whole grains, vegetables, and fatsIn the past, Cyrus has gone gluten-free as well. This left little room for her godmother’s fried chicken and cornbread. 

“I haven’t cooked for Miley in a long time because she’s a little more picky now than I am,” Parton told Insider. “I can’t eat it as often, but I’ve still never been on a diet that I didn’t break by wanting to eat something like potato salad or meatloaf or some fried chicken — any of that good stuff that you love to cook in the South.” 

Other stars Dolly Parton has cooked for

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How Dolly Parton’s Cooking and Songwriting Are Connected

Parton is known for her love to share her wealth and passions with others. This includes her love for southern cooking. The star has been known to cook homemade goodies for her castmates, including Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, while the women were filming 9 to 5. She commonly makes large batches of chicken and dumplings for her castmates and friends. 

When not cooking for other celebrities, Parton returns to her long-held tradition of cooking for her husband of 55 years, Carl Dean. Parton claims one of her husband’s favorites among her meals is her traditional Southern breakfast, complete with her extra fluffy scrambled eggs thanks to a few drops of ice water added to the batter.

When asked what her goddaughter’s favorites are among her recipes, Parton says, “In the earlier days, or when her defenses are down, we still eat that good ol’ food like meatloaf.” She even claims Cyrus makes an excellent meatloaf herself.