Miley Cyrus’s long history with “Jolene” gave a personal dimension to the discussion around the CMA’s televised tribute to her godmother, Dolly Parton. Ella Langley performed the country classic at the October 21, 2026, special, while Cyrus was not part of the broadcast.
Cyrus’s connection to the song stretches back to 2012, when she recorded a cover for a YouTube series with her bandmates. The performance went on to attract more than 581 million views, making her version one of the best-known modern interpretations of Parton’s hit.
Her bond with the song has also been shared onstage with Parton. In 2016, Cyrus joined her godmother and Pentatonix on “The Voice” for a rendition of “Jolene,” bringing their musical connection into the spotlight.
A recent performance at the Hollywood Bowl
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Just days before the CMA tribute, Cyrus sang “Jolene” at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The October 16 performance came during the first of two concerts at the venue. Before singing, she recalled seeing Parton perform live for the only time—also at the Hollywood Bowl.
Cyrus became visibly emotional as she spoke about Parton, then performed the song in her honor. The moment linked her enduring interpretation of “Jolene” with a personal memory of her godmother.
That timing made her absence from the CMA broadcast especially noticeable. Langley took on the song during the televised celebration, which brought together performances and stories honoring Parton’s career and music. Cyrus’s recent appearance at the Bowl offered a striking reminder of the personal history she shares with both the artist and the song.
A song with a lasting reach
Cyrus’s 2012 cover remains a prominent part of her connection to “Jolene,” while her 2016 performance with Parton and Pentatonix showed the two singing it together. The song has continued to serve as a meeting point between Parton’s catalogue and Cyrus’s own public musical history.
The CMA special celebrated Parton through contributions from artists and people who admire her. Cyrus did not appear in the televised tribute, but her emotional Hollywood Bowl performance shortly beforehand gave fans another way to revisit the relationship behind her version of the classic. Her history with “Jolene”—from the viral cover to the shared performance with Parton—helps explain why her connection to the tribute remained a compelling detail.
