CNN —Dolly Parton has learned her special connection with goddaughter Miley Cyrus is even deeper than she originally thought. Their common ancestor is a man named John Brickey, who was born in Virginia in 1740, according to Ancestry. Brickey is Parton’s sixth great-grandfather and Cyrus’ seventh great-grandfather. “We’re so close, Miley and I. I’d have thought we’d have been at least third cousins,” Parton said on Monday’s episode of Access Hollywood, reacting to the revelation. “Dolly is not only my idol because of her incomparable career—she’s also my role model because of her steadfast morals and values,” Cyrus wrote.

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Persons: Dolly Parton, goddaughter Miley Cyrus, they’ve, John Brickey, Cyrus ’, “, Miley, ” Parton, Hannah Montana ”, Cyrus, Parton, Dolly, — she’s, ” Cyrus Organizations: CNN, Disney Channel Locations: Virginia, East Tennessee