Dolly Parton always knew goddaughter Miley Cyrus was bound to be a big star.
During a recent interview with RuPaul for this month's issue of Marie Claire, the country icon discussed how she recognized Cyrus' talent at a young age.
"I’ve always loved her, since she was little, and I knew she was special," Parton said. "She just had a light about her. Her sparkle, and her smile, and her eyes were always full of wonder."
Parton first recognized Cyrus' talent when she starred on Hannah Montana. "When she was on that little show, I saw what great timing she had, what a great little comedian she was," the country star shared, going on to note that Cyrus, daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus, was gifted musically from the very start.
"But I’d always known her to write her little songs on her little left-handed guitar. I guess Billy Ray is the lefty," Parton said. "And so she just kind of grew up with us. With Billy and me—Billy Ray, her dad, we were friends and we worked a lot together, doing shows together, traveling some. But I just knew she was just going to make it. I just knew she was a star."
In the interview, Parton applauded her goddaughter for being a risk-taker. "I think she’s great. She’s out there, and I love that she takes her chances," she explained. "I love that she’s true to herself and that she’s willing to try new things and do whatever."
When asked if she regrets not having the chance to be "wild" like the "Malibu" singer, Parton responded, "No I never needed to be that wild. But I think it's fine for her. I'm king of wild in my own way. I have my own little things, and I'm an individual, and I think that's what that's about too."
"We all need to be true to ourselves, and I think that’s what she’s doing," Parton continued. "I think that’s the key to everybody’s success as a human being and as an entertainer. You have to know what your talents are, what your limits are. But I think you have to be brave enough to try."
"One of my favorite sayings that I say about myself, that I made up, is that my desire to do something has always been greater than my fear of it," Parton explained. "So I think that Miley often gets out there. She will get out there and get on that tightrope without a net underneath her. But how else are you going to know? She’ll take those chances. And I take chances too. We just do it in a different way. But I do think she’s a pro. I just think she’s so talented, and she’s beautiful."
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