LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17 -- Miley Cyrus broke down in tears at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday night, then sang "Jolene" for the godmother she lost less than two months ago.

As the opening notes played, she put a photograph of Dolly Parton on the screen. Parton died on Aug. 25 at 80 after what her representative called a "brief battle with cancer," and the Bowl show came weeks after Dolly Parton was laid to rest in Nashville.

The story Cyrus told the crowd was small and specific. She once asked "Aunt Dolly" for a night off from being part of the act, a chance to sit in the audience at this same venue and enjoy a Parton show like everyone else. Parton said "Okay, Miley," which Cyrus joked never means okay. Then Parton opened with "The Best of B...