Eminem and Dolly Parton never met, but they shared a mutual admiration for each other’s craft. Following Parton’s death on Tuesday (Aug. 25), Slim Shady shared a heartfelt note that the country icon sent him after he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
“I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had a an impact on me,” Em captioned the post on social media. “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.”
In her letter, Parton revealed how, while she wasn’t very knowledgeable when it comes to hip-hop, she’s long felt an “unexplained connection” to Eminem.
“Congratulations on your induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” she wrote. “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.”
The versatile singer/songwriter continued: “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.”
The Grammy winner left an indelible mark on country and pop music with a career that spanned more than half a century. Parton died Tuesday in Nashville at 80 years old.
She spent the last year dealing with unspecified health issues, which led to her canceling numerous public appearances, including her 2025 Las Vegas residency. On Tuesday, her reps revealed that Parton died “after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer.”
Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Billy Ray Cyrus, Flavor Flav, George Strait and Elton John were among the outpouring of moving tributes to the “9 to 5” singer spanning music and all facets of entertainment since Parton’s death became public knowledge.
Find Parton’s letter to Eminem below.