Dolly Parton does not hesitate when it comes to defending her goddaughter. The country singer recently hit back at critics of Miley Cyrus.

It is not surprising by now that the "Wrecking Ball" hitmaker is being criticized over her eyebrow-raising, sexually-charged antics. The 68-year-old singer was recently asked if she could understand what the 21-year-old controversial pop star was going through.

"Yeah, well I do 'cause back in the day, doing my own things my own way, and dressing sexy and showing my cleavage and all that, I got a lot of criticism," she said. "Lots of people thought I was making a mistake and that I was just trashy, which I was.

"So I did go through that, but I don't give her advice," she said. "Everyone has to walk this journey according to their own rules. That's what she's doing. And I love her." Parton also said that Cyrus is "just trying to find her own place and wings and learn to fly."

"I've known her daddy (Billy Ray Cyrus) the many years he's been in the business. I've watched her grow up," Parton said. "She's a smart girl. She had to go to extremes to get her point across. I think she got the point across."

Dolly Parton revealed her concerns for Miley Cyrus earlier this year. She explained that the "Bangerz" singer has been trying so hard to get rid of her good girl image.

"One day she'd had enough and told me: 'I need to murder Hannah Montana in order for people to accept who I really am," she said. "I think she felt she had to make that severe change. And she obviously did.

"I'm hoping that she holds it in the road and doesn't do so many things that are that bizarre," Parton said. "I don't think the crowd would be so forgiving again if she did anything else that was really offensive. I don't want it to overshadow her talent."