Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton Bridge Generations in a Moving New Year’s Medley

Miley Cyrus linked her 2013 power ballad “Wrecking Ball” to Dolly Parton’s country classic “I Will Always Love You” in a medley spanning nearly four decades of songwriting. The first song’s chorus eased into the second’s refrain, bringing together two works centered on heartbreak, devotion, separation, and farewell.

The performance was broadcast live from Miami on NBC’s “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” on December 31, 2022. Parton appeared alongside Cyrus, her honorary goddaughter. After Parton died on August 25, 2026, at age 80, the archival video was reposted to YouTube in remembrance of their long-standing bond.

Because the footage came from a holiday television special rather than a recent appearance, its later memorial context gave the collaboration additional poignancy. Onstage, Cyrus began with the raspy, powerful delivery associated with her signature anthem. Parton followed with a clear and delicate soprano that anchored the melody.

The singers exchanged verses and came together during the choruses. Their eye contact and physical cues indicated sustained attention to each other as the transition unfolded. That coordination allowed the pairing to move beyond the feel of a routine television medley and become a closely engaged collaboration.

Watch the full performance on page two