Eminem Shares Heartfelt Letter Dolly Parton Sent Him About an ‘Unexplained Connection’ Between Them
Eminem has shared a letter Dolly Parton sent him after his 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, following her death on Tuesday 25 August at the age of 80. In the note, Parton, who admitted she knew little about hip-hop, told the rapper she had long felt an "unexplained connection" to him and praised his performance and talent, while Eminem responded by calling her "an icon" and thanking her for the kind words, expressing regret that the pair never met in person.
Parton's representatives said she died in Nashville "after bravely facing a brief battle with cancer", having spent the past year dealing with unspecified health issues that forced her to cancel public appearances, including her planned 2025 Las Vegas residency. Her death, capping a career spanning more than fifty years, has prompted tributes from across music and entertainment, including from Paul McCartney, Billy Ray Cyrus, George Strait and Elton John.
- Eminem shared Dolly Parton's 2022 letter to him after her death
- Parton wrote she felt an "unexplained connection" to him
- Parton died aged 80 after a brief cancer battle
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Dolly Parton was one of country music's biggest stars, known for songs such as "Jolene" and "9 to 5" as well as her business ventures, including the Dollywood theme park. Eminem is a rapper who rose to fame in the late 1990s and has long been considered one of the most successful and influential figures in hip-hop. On the surface the two seem an unlikely pairing, given how different their genres and audiences are.
The connection between them became public when Eminem was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, an honour recognising major contributions to popular music regardless of genre. Parton, also a Hall of Fame member, wrote to him around that time despite saying she knew little about his style of music, telling him she felt a personal bond with him and admired his talent.
Parton died on 25 August 2026 at the age of 80, after a career spanning more than five decades, prompting tributes from musicians across different genres. Eminem's decision to make her letter public came in response to her death, offering a personal glimpse into a friendship that had not previously been widely known.