Billy Ray Cyrus has shared his reflections on life after the passing of Dolly Parton, who died on August 25 at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Cyrus, 65, has described the time since her death as "A.D. – After Dolly," a term he uses to mark the period of adjustment following her loss. One month after her death, he honored Parton by calling her "a light in the world." In an interview with People, he said, "I forever see that number 25 has changed in a different way. We're adjusting to a world without Dolly, and her light still shines. That's the beauty of it." Dolly Parton, famous for songs like Jolene, 9 To 5, and I Will Always Love You, was the godmother of Cyrus' daughter, Miley Cyrus. Reflecting on her legacy, Cyrus described her as "Mother Theresa meets Elvis (Presley) meets Marilyn Monroe," emphasizing that she was "a star of a magnitude beyond this planet." He added, "Dolly is just such a light in the world. We all celebrate this day of all of her love and humanity. She treated every single human being that came in her path with love and grace." Cyrus shared what he considers one of his most "prized possessions": a handwritten letter from Parton shortly after they first met in 1992. In the note, she expressed her pleasure at collaborating with the singer and noted how proud she was of his career. Following her death, tributes poured in from around the world, with messages from major musical icons including Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. Throughout a career spanning over six decades, Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide and wrote over 3,000 songs, including Coat Of Many Colours and Joshua. Her influence extended beyond music through her business ventures, including the Dollywood theme park, and her work as a pioneering philanthropist. In 1995, she founded the Imagination Library to honor her father, who could not read or write, ensuring children from birth to age five receive a free, high-quality book every month. An annual charity fundraising day, titled Give Like Dolly Day, was launched on September 25 to celebrate Parton and support the initiative.