Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John have led an outpouring of tributes from celebrities and fans to Dolly Parton following the music icon’s death at the age of 80.

Cyrus paid an emotional tribute to her godmother, “Aunt Dolly”, describing her as an “angel by my side”. “I will always love her and want to make her proud,” she wrote on Instagram, external.

The Tennessee-born singer died on Tuesday after “a brief battle with cancer”, her team said in a statement.

Parton is known for iconic songs including Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You. She was also a philanthropist, who helped fund one of the first Covid-19 vaccines and poured millions into improving children’s literacy.

Cyrus, also born in Tennessee, added: “Our most sacred moments were private and they’ll stay there behind the stage, beneath the glamour and between our hearts.

“What I know is Dolly would want me to feel it, write a song about it, and then continue on and be strong.”

Her father and Parton’s close friend Billy Ray Cyrus remembered the music icon as being “part of our lives, on our TVs, right in our living rooms”.

“I have so many moments and memories with Dolly, it’s hard to know where to start,” he said. “Like every little boy, I grew up loving Dolly Parton.”

He recounted a time when he had to apologise to Parton for tabloid rumours which claimed they were having an affair.

“In true Dolly fashion, she just looked at me, winked and said: ‘Honey, this trash sells records!'”