Guest stars including Brooke Shields, Vicki Lawrence, Jesse McCartney, and the Jonas Brothers appear throughout the series. Singer Dolly Parton, Cyrus's real life godmother, had a recurring role as Miley's godmother Aunt Dolly. Parton stated Cyrus persuaded executives to write her into the series and credited her role for gaining her a following among young people. The final season includes guest roles from musicians Sheryl Crow and Iyaz; actors Christine Taylor, Ray Liotta, and Angus T. Jones; and television personalities Phil McGraw, Jay Leno, and Kelly Ripa.