Dolly Parton appeared on 'Hannah Montana' as 'Aunt Dolly.' Now, Emily Osment recalled an unforgettable detail about the singer on the Disney Channel series set.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleDolly Parton’s death on August 25, 2025, came as a shock to all her fans and close ones. While she had been struggling with her health in the days leading up to her death, everyone believed that the country legend would recover soon and make a comeback.
Now, Dolly continues to live on not only through the amazing music that she has left behind, but also in others' memories of her. Emily Osment, who is best known for starring in Hannah Montana, recalled a sweet memory of what it was like working with Dolly Parton.
Emily Osment recently attended the Warner Bros. Television Group’s 78th Primetime Emmy Awards Nominees Celebration. At the event, the actress recalled working with Dolly Parton on the much-loved Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. While speaking with PEOPLE, Emily called Dolly lovely. Recalling how punctual she was, Emily said:
“Oh man, she was so lovely. She was, if not on time, very early, and she always smelled like magnolias. That’s what I remember. She smelled really good.”
For those unaware, Dolly Parton appeared as ‘Aunt Dolly’ on Hannah Montana. She played Miley Cyrus' on-screen aunt and her real-life grandmother. Dolly was only seen on three episodes of the series: season 1’s Good Golly, Miss Dolly, in 2006; season 2’s I Will Always Loathe You, in 2007; and season 4’s Kiss It All Goodbye, in 2010.
Despite the few appearances that Dolly Parton made on the show, she made sure to bring her on-screen charm, captivating viewers. The Jolene singer’s appearances also served as her introduction to a whole generation of younger viewers. In fact, to this day, many millennial and Gen Z fans still remember Dolly as Miley’s ‘Aunt Dolly.’
In a 2020 interview, Dolly opened up about her experience working on Hannah Montana. She said:
“We just worked so great together… and thanks to her, I had a whole new following of people that were turned on to me. These young, little kids that were her fans, and kids that were fans of just the whole show, and the other little artists on the show, but here I am, Miley’s fairy godmother.”
In her final interview on August 21, 2026, Dolly admitted that her physical condition began declining when her beloved husband, Carl Dean, passed away. Recalling that time, she claimed that she would often ignore her own health just to look after him.
Dolly mentioned having "female issues" for several months and also struggling with her weight. The country star admitted that she should have paid more attention to her health and revealed that she had been having "hard times" due to her ailments.
After a private battle with cancer in her final days, Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. The news was first announced by Dolly's nephew and longtime head of security, Brian Seaver, via a video on Instagram. A day later, Miley took to social media to share an emotional tribute. The pop star claimed that the feeling of losing her Aunt Dolly was beyond what she felt right to share. She said that their “most sacred moments” together were always private and that's how it would always stay. A part of Miley’s note read:
“I have an angel by my side. I always have. One of our last conversations was about music and metamorphosis. I will always love her and want to make her proud. My heart breaks for the world, her family and friends who will miss her deeply.”
What are your thoughts on Emily Osment’s statements about working with Dolly Parton?
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