It turns out that country music royalty Dolly Parton and pop sensation Miley Cyrus aren’t just BFFs—they’re actually related! Yes, you heard that right. The 78-year-old queen of sass and the 31-year-old “party in the USA” girl are seventh cousins, once removed. Who knew? Maybe we should start calling them the Cousins of Country!
Thanks to some sleuthing from the genealogy wizards at Ancestry, we’ve learned that their common ancestor is a dude named John Brickey, who was born in Virginia way back in 1740. Yes, he predates air conditioning, microwaves, and, you know, anything fun! John later packed up his family (and probably a ton of wigs) and headed to Blount County, Tennessee, where he stayed until 1806. Turns out the Brickey clan has roots in France, so maybe that’s where Dolly gets her flair for drama—and those fabulous nails!
In a recent interview, Dolly was all ears when she heard the news about her newfound relative. “Is that true? That’s amazing!” she exclaimed, probably while pouring herself a sweet tea. “Well, we’re so close, Miley and I. I would’ve thought we would’ve been at least third cousins, 10 times removed!” Because who doesn’t love a bit of family tree math?
Dolly, with her glittering personality, added, “I’m sure she’ll get a kick out of that, but it doesn’t surprise me because she does feel like family.” And we all know family is just one more reason to pull out the karaoke machine, right?
The dynamic duo has collaborated on all sorts of projects, including the iconic Hannah Montana, co-hosting New Year’s Eve (where chaos reigned supreme), and their latest duet of Miley’s smash hit “Wrecking Ball” on Dolly’s new album, Rockstar. Because when you’re cousins, sharing is caring—even if it means sharing the spotlight on a song about emotional wreckage!
Dolly and Miley, a family affair that’s sure to keep the good times rolling—right alongside the banjo tunes! Stay tuned for their next family reunion, which will probably feature a dance-off and an excessive amount of rhinestones.