Eminem is remembering Dolly Parton with a deeply personal tribute, revealing that a handwritten message from the country music legend years ago had a lasting impact on him.
Parton died Tuesday, Aug. 25, at 80 after what her representative described as a “brief battle with cancer.” In the days following her death, tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world, with Eminem choosing to revisit a personal note she sent him after their 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions.
Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, and Parton were both inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022. Although the two never actually met, Parton reached out to congratulate the rapper on the achievement and his performance.
In the letter, Parton praised Eminem’s talent despite admitting that she did not know much about rap music. She also told him she felt an unexplained connection to him and encouraged him to continue pursuing his work.
That message clearly stayed with Eminem.
“Getting this note from Dolly really had an impact on me,” the rapper wrote in his Instagram tribute.
Eminem explained that Parton did not have to take the time to write to him, making the gesture particularly meaningful.
“She definitely didn’t have to take the time to do it,” he wrote, before describing Parton as an icon and superstar.
The rapper also reflected on his own musical upbringing, noting that he was largely a fan of rap while growing up. Even so, Parton’s stature as an entertainer was never lost on him.
“Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon. A superstar in every sense,” Eminem wrote.
He ended his tribute with a simple farewell: “Rest easy, Dolly. And thank you for the kind words.”
Parton’s message to Eminem has now taken on an added significance following her death, offering a glimpse into a connection between two vastly different music worlds.
Her 2022 letter was filled with encouragement, telling Eminem that he was special and that his work touched people in ways he might not realize.
Parton’s death has prompted tributes from numerous stars, including Jane Fonda, Carol Burnett, Reba McEntire, Julia Roberts, Shirley MacLaine, Sally Field, Blake Shelton, Kacey Musgraves and Maren Morris.
For Eminem, however, the tribute was also about something much more personal: a few thoughtful words from Dolly Parton that he never forgot.
