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Dolly Parton died Tuesday at age 80, and tributes poured in from every corner of the music world. One of them stood out. Eminem posted a letter Parton had sent him years earlier, and it’s not what most people would expect from a country legend writing to a rapper.
The letter dates back to 2022, right after Eminem’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Parton wrote it on her own stationery and signed her name in pink ink. She addressed it simply to “Marshall (Eminem).”
She congratulated him on the induction. She praised his performance that night, too.
What Dolly Actually Wrote
Parton admitted upfront that rap wasn’t exactly her wheelhouse. That didn’t stop her from calling Eminem the best there is at it.
“Even though I don’t know a lot about rap music, I’ve come to know that you are the very best at it. Aside from that I hope what I have to say will not seem weird or strange to you but I have always felt some unexplained connection to you like I know you somehow.”
She went on to say she’d hoped to meet him at the ceremony but hates those chaotic industry events as much as anyone — so she skipped her chance. Maybe someday, she wrote, they’d cross paths.
I'm sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had a an impact on me. She definitely didn't have to take the time to do it. Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense. Rest easy Dolly. And thank… pic.twitter.com/LPHi3cKe5m
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) August 25, 2026
Here’s the letter in full:
“Marshall (Eminem),
Congratulations on your induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Your performance was amazing and everybody said so. Even though I don’t know a lot about rap music, I’ve come to know that you are the very best at it. Aside from that I hope what I have to say will not seem weird or strange to you but I have always felt some unexplained connection to you like I know you somehow. I had hoped to meet you at the show but you know how nuts those things are, personally I hate ’em and I missed my chance but maybe someday we’ll meet. In the meantime, keep doing what you’re doing because you do it so well and no matter how complex your world may be just know you are very special and touch people in ways you don’t even know.With love & respect,
Dolly Parton”
Eminem’s Response
Eminem shared the letter on social media with a message of his own. He talked about growing up in Detroit obsessed with rap, and how even then, Parton’s status as a music icon was obvious to him — genre didn’t matter.
He’s clearly emotional about never getting the chance to actually meet her.
“I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had an impact on me. She definitely didn’t have to take the time to do it. Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense. Rest easy Dolly. And thank you for the kind words.”
He posted the note on Twitter (@Eminem) on August 25, 2026, and it quickly spread across fan accounts and music outlets alike.
— Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) August 25, 2026
Video tribute footage has also circulated online, showing more reactions from artists across genres.
What makes the letter resonate isn’t just who wrote it or who received it — it’s the sincerity. Parton wasn’t obligated to reach out to Eminem after his induction. She did it anyway, and that gesture says a lot about who she was, on top of everything she already accomplished in a decades-long career.
Parton is survived by family, countless collaborators, and generations of fans across genres she never expected to touch — including, apparently, hip-hop.
