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Dolly Parton defends Miley's sexy new persona

'She's trying to grow up ... I remember when I was horny and young'

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Image: Miley Cyrus, Dolly Parton
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"She's got the legs that go forever. It'll take people a while to get over her being 'Hannah Montana,'" Dolly Parton, right, said of Miley Cyrus.
Access Hollywood
updated 7/2/2010 1:31:26 PM ET 2010-07-02T17:31:26

LOS ANGELES — Miley Cyrus may have garnered a host of headlines for her cutout ensemble at the MuchMusic Video Awards last month, but Dolly Parton has nothing but praise for the teen sensation.

"If you think I'm going to sit here and pass judgment on Miley, you're wrong," Parton told Access Hollywood earlier this week when asked about Cyrus' outfit from the event. "I think she's beautiful. I love her. She's trying to grow up, you know, I remember when I was horny and young."

Photos: Tennessee Titan: Country Music Legend Dolly Parton

"When you were what?" Access asked.

"Horny and young," Parton repeated. "I'm still horny!"

Photos: She's Just Bein' Miley!

Parton admitted she had previously seen the photos of Cyrus and she appreciates that the 17-year-old is growing up.

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"I love her. I've seen them all. I think she's beautiful," Parton said during an interview to promote her Hallmark Channel special, "25 Years of Dollywood." "She's got the legs that go forever. It'll take people a while to get over her being 'Hannah Montana.' The girl's talented. The girl's beautiful and, you know, it's shocking just like [she's] your own daughter. Everybody looks at her like [she's] your own kid ... I'm not passing judgment. So, we can just leave that at that."

Parton went on to suggest the uproar over Cyrus' changing looks and increasingly adventurous stage performances is overblown.

Photos: Daring! Dramatic! Fabulous! Hot Shots Of Hollywood's Divas

"She's right there in public. How bad can it be? I mean, she's on camera. It's not like she's, you know, selling her body," Parton continued. "She's precious. I love her and I have nothing but wonderful things to wish for her and wonderful things to say about her."

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In related Dolly-Miley news, the blonde singer explained to Access that the longstanding rumors that she is Cyrus' godmother are not true. She is, however, the singer's "fairy godmother."

Photos: Country Stars

"We didn't have a ceremony, but I love her. I'm so proud of her and I just hate it when people mistreat her and say bad things because I know her little heart and I know her talent, which is great," Parton said. "She's a great writer, great singer, she's trying to grow up. It would have to be very difficult to come from the 'Hannah Montana' days and try to be your own self and express yourself as a artist, but she'll get through it and we need to let her spread her wings and do what she does. She'll be alright."

"25 Years of Dollywood" airs on the Hallmark Channel on Saturday.

Copyright 2012 by NBC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Photos: Miley Cyrus: Teen queen

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  1. Image: Kevin James, Adam Sandler
    Related slideshow Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2010

    Dodging the slime

    Miley Cyrus accepts the award for favorite movie actress at the Nickelodeon Annual Kids' Choice Awards on March 27, 2010. Somehow she managed to avoid the ceremony's famous slime, but presenters Katy Perry, left, and Jonah Hill weren't so lucky. (Matt Sayles / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  2. Miss Miley shows 'em how to do it

    Although she's just 17, Cyrus already has a career any of the "American Idol" wannabes would envy. She served as a guest mentor and performed on the March 24, 2010 show. (Michael Becker / PictureGroup) Back to slideshow navigation
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  3. A couple on film, and in real life

    Cyrus stars in 2010's "The Last Song," written especially for her by novelist Nicholas Sparks. Her real-life boyfriend, Liam Hemsworth, plays her beau onscreen as well. () Back to slideshow navigation
  4. Image: USO Hosts The Swinging Salute To Our Troops Fleet Week Kick Off
    Related slideshow Entertaining the troops

    Supporting the troops

    Cyrus and the cast of her show, "Hannah Montana," celebrated military families in early 2010 with a special episode. Young people who have deployed military parents were invited to appear in the episode and videotape greetings to their parents. (Eric Mccandless / Disney Channel via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  5. Celebrity couple

    Hemsworth and Cyrus attend the 18th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party at Pacific Design Center on March 7, 2010 in West Hollywood, Calif. They kept their relationship low-key at first, but finally admitted it at the Oscars. (Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  6. Singing for Haiti

    Cyrus records her contribution to Simon Cowell's Help Haiti charity single, "Everybody Hurts." The star-studded British single, which raise money for victims of the earthquake in Haiti, is a cover of the R.E.M.'s 1993 ballad. The single made its debut on Feb. 2, 2010. (Austin Hargrave / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  7. Arm and arm

    Miley and mother Leticia Cyrus hang out backstage during the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 31, 2010. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  8. Meeting with the Queen

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Cyrus shake hands after the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England, on Dec. 7 2009. (Leon Neal / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
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  9. Diva debut

    Cyrus and Sheryl Crow perform together during the 2009 VH1 Divas concert at Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York on Sept. 17, 2009. (Christopher Polk / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  10. Popcorn time

    Cyrus accepts the best song from a movie award during the MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, Calif., on May 31, 2009. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  11. Walking for a cause

    The singer-actress and her mother Leticia Cyrus attend the 16th annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women in Los Angeles on May 9, 2009. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  12. London calling

    Miley Cyrus, left, and her father Billy Ray, center, and actress Demi Lovato attend the British premiere of their film "Hannah Montana" on April 23, 2009. (Max Nash / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  13. A little bit country

    Cyrus performs "The Climb" during the Academy Of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 5, 2009. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  14.  Related video Inside ‘Hannah Montana: The Movie’

    Movie star

    Cyrus, right, and co-star Lucas Till go out for a ride in a scene from "Hannah Montana: The Movie." In the film, Miley Stewart returns to Tennessee to gain some perspective as the pressures of being "Hannah Montana" begin to take their toll. (Sam Emerson / Disney via AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  15. Red-carpet kiss

    Cyrus blows a kiss at the "Hannah Montana: The Movie" premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday, April 2, 2009. (Kristian Dowling / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  16. Miley's man?

    Cyrus and Justin Gaston, a 20-year-old underwear model, have been seen out and about together. In an April 2009 interview with Teen Vogue, Cyrus described Gaston as her best friend. (Splash News) Back to slideshow navigation
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  17. The Kids' Choice

    Cyrus accepts the Favorite Female Singer award at the 22nd Annual Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday, March 28, 2009 in Los Angeles. (Jason Decrow / Nickelodeon via AP) Back to slideshow navigation
    Related video Miley Cyrus on her new movie
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  18. Singer, actress, author

    Cyrus poses with a copy of her book "Miles To Go" at a signing at a Los Angeles bookstore on Saturday, March 7, 2009. (Dan Steinberg / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  19. Miley goes to the Oscars

    Cyrus arrives at the 81st Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2009. (Frazer Harrison / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  20. Inaugural gig

    Cyrus and her father perform together at the "We Are the Future" kids inaugural concert in Washington on Monday, January 19, 2009. (Mike Segar / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation

  21. 'Breakout' star

    Surrounded by her young fans, the singer/actress performs on the TODAY show in New York on Friday, July 25, 2008. (Brendan McDermid / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation

  22. Ready for my close-up

    Cyrus shows her silly side while co-hosting MTV's "Total Request Live" at MTV Studios in New York on Friday, July 18, 2008. (Evan Agostini / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  23. Song and the city

    Cyrus performs on ABC's "Good Morning America" at Bryant Park in New York on Friday, July 18, 2008. (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  24. In your face

    Cyrus performs during Z100's Zootopia '08 concert at Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., on Saturday, May 17, 2008. (Bill Kostroun / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  25. Close to mom

    Cyrus and her mother, Leticia, are seen backstage at the "Idol Gives Back" fundraising special of "American Idol" in Hollywood, Calif., on Sunday, April 6, 2008. (Matt Sayles / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  26. KIIS and yell

    Cyrus performs at 102.7 KIIS-FM's Wango Tango concert in Irvine, Calif, on Saturday, May 10, 2008. (Gus Ruelas / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  27. Queen of her Kingdom

    Cyrus signs autographs for young fans at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Thursday, May 1, 2008. Cyrus was in town to promote the "Disney Channel Games," a made-for-television, Olympic-style competition that will air this summer on the Disney Channel. (Garth Vaughan / Disney via AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  28. A little bit country

    Miley and her father Billy Ray perform "Ready, Set, Don't Go" onstage during the 2008 CMT Music Awards at the Curb Events Center at Belmont University on Monday, April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tenn. (Scott Gries / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  29. Teen 'Idol'

    Cyrus performs during the taping of "Idol Gives Back" at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Sunday, April 6, 2008. (Fox via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  30. Disney's jewel

    Cyrus works the red carpet at the 80th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. She turns 18 in 2010, and her eventual rise to the status of billionaire is widely anticipated. (Kevork Djansezian / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  31. Girls just wanna have fun

    Cyrus, right, joins Cyndi Lauper as a presenter during the 50th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation

  32. Fan favorite

    Fans of Cyrus participate in the Ultimate Miley Party Bus Tour 2007 in Los Angeles on Nov. 7, 2007. Even in the annals of Disney's vaunted history of childhood icons, there's never been anyone quite like Hannah Montana. She landed on Billboard's list of the 20 top-earning artists of 2007 in the No. 11 spot with $64 million from her CD sales and tour receipts. (Danny Moloshok / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  33. Live, in 3-D

    Cyrus performs in a scene from her new movie "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert." Tickets for the film, like her concerts, were a hot seller. The film made $31 million at the box office in its opening weekend. "This is like better than front row," Cyrus said of the 3-D film. "You could reach out and feel like you can touch my hand you could see me right then. Right there, right in front of you, which is so fun." (AP) Back to slideshow navigation
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  34. Chart buster

    Cyrus makes an in-store appearance at the World of Disney store in New York on June 21, 2007. Disney's "Hannah Montana" album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, making it the first-ever TV soundtrack to accomplish such a feat. The album features eight songs performed by Cyrus as her on-screen alter ego. (Everett Collection) Back to slideshow navigation
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  35. Tween superstar

    Cyrus, right, and Emily Osment, as Lilly Truscott, star in the "Hannah Montana" episode "Song Sung Bad." The show has become one of the most watched on cable TV. (Joel Warren / Disney Channel) Back to slideshow navigation

  36. Art imitates life

    Billy Ray and Miley star in a season two episode of the "Hannah Montana" show on the Disney Channel entitled ''Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas.'' Miley stars as Miley Stewart, a preteen who lives a secret life as a pop star, and Billy Ray stars as her dad and manager, Robby Stewart. (Joel Warren / Disney Channel) Back to slideshow navigation

  37. Special visit

    Cyrus talks with patient Alex Wilson, 7, during a visit where she handed out toys and signed photos at the Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, R.I., on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007. (Ray Stubblebine / AP) Back to slideshow navigation

  38. Baby billionaire-to-be

    Billy Ray and Miley attend the "Elvis Presley Tribute Concert" on Oct. 8, 1994, at Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tenn. (Ron Galella / WireImage via Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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