Dolly Parton romance rumours kickstarted Billy Ray Cyrus’ career

Billy Ray Cyrus credits romance rumours with Dolly Parton for really getting his career on track.
The country stars toured together in 1992 and gossips were quick to latch on to reports they were a couple backstage, prompting naive Billy Ray to apologise to Dolly for any embarrassment the stories might be causing her.
“There was a headline that she and I were romantically involved,” he tells Closer magazine. “My manager took me to meet her for the first time and I said, ‘I’m so sorry’. Dolly looked me straight in the eyes and said, ‘Honey, that s**t sells records!’
“Next thing I knew, (debut album) Some Gave All was number one for 17 weeks in a row!”
Dolly and Billy Ray became great friends and she’s now godmother to his daughter Miley.
Cyrus admits he owes an awful lot to the country music legend: “I love Dolly,” he gushes. “I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without her… She was there in 1992 when I went from living in my Chevy Beretta to recording my first album. Pretty soon after that, I was opening her shows!”