This throwback video is all 90’s swagger. Dolly Parton swooned after a leather clad Billy Ray Cyrus in the video for their 1993 duet “Romeo”. In the video, Parton had a girl’s night out with Pam Tillis, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kathy Mattea and Tanya Tucker when Cyrus entered the bar. For his part, Cyrus, wearing a mullet, channeled the “bad boy”attitude of that era.
During the ballad, Parton combined her signature country twang with Cyrus’ rougher low tones. For the chorus, Parton was backed up by her fellow vocalists as she chased Cyrus’ enigmatic stranger across the dance floor. The song was a minor success on the country music charts, performing at 27 during its peak. By the end of the duet, Parton subsequently managed to track down “her man.”
Commenters online praised the song’s atmosphere as well as the chemistry between Parton and Cyrus. Many found the performance to be fun. “Dolly Parton is exceptionally beautiful and Billy Ray Cyrus is devastatingly handsome. The video ain’t bad either,” one user wrote. Another wrote, “Shameless. Utterly shameless. Then again: Billy Ray Cyrus was pretty hot.”
One user loved the meta-commentary at the end of the video when Parton broke character. They wrote, “I love the end ‘I’m so flattered you chose me..but after all it’s only right I am paying for this video’ teehee.”
Dolly Parton appeared on Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter’s show ‘Hanna Montana.’
Cyrus rose to fame in the 1990s for his hit single “Achy Breaky Heart”. Soon afterwards, Cyrus met Parton while on tour. According to the Daily Express, there were rumors of the two being romantically involved, given how close they became. Cyrus said Parton encouraged the rumors because it helped sell records. They recorded “Romeo” not long afterwards.
In real life, Parton and Cyrus developed a lasting friendship. He even asked the country legend to be the godmother for his daughter Miley, who became famous in her own right. Parton appeared several times as Aunt Dolly on Miley’s Hannah Montana and later performed with her on The Voice.
“I love Dolly. I probably wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without her,” Billy Ray Cyrus said.