Eminem paid tribute to Dolly Parton on Tuesday by sharing a letter that the late country music legend wrote to him after the two were 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 an impact on me,” wrote the rapper, who described Parton as a “superstar in every sense,” in a social media post.
Eminem is part of the growing list of celebrities who have honored Parton after her family announced her death on Tuesday following a “brief battle with cancer.”
Parton began the letter by congratulating Eminem on joining the hall of fame and praising his “amazing” performance at the 2022 induction ceremony.
“Even though I don’t know about rap music, I’ve come to know that you are the very best at it,” wrote Parton, who noted that she’s always felt “some unexplained connection” to the rapper.
Parton, who initially declined the nomination to join the hall in 2022, later reversed course and accepted the induction after learning that it wasn’t necessarily “for the people in rock music.”
In her letter, Parton wrote that while she didn’t get the chance to meet the rapper at the induction ceremony, she hoped to “someday,” before encouraging him to “keep doing what you’re doing because you do it so well.”
“No matter how complex your world may be just know you are very special and touch people in ways you don’t even know,” she concluded.
Eminem said Parton “definitely didn’t have to take the time” to send him the letter.
“Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon,” he wrote.
He concluded, “Rest easy Dolly. And thank you for the kind words.”