Eminem has paid tribute to Dolly Parton following the country legend’s death at the age of 80.
Taking to social media, the rapper shared a letter Parton had sent him after they were both inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. However, the two never actually met despite sharing the honor that year.
“I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had an impact on me,” the Detroit MC wrote. “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.”
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Addressing the rapper by his first name, Marshall, she began her letter by congratulating him on his induction and praising his performance at the ceremony. She was referring to his career-spanning medley, made up of “My Name Is,” “Rap God,” “Forever,” and “Not Afraid.” He was also joined by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler for “Sing for the Moment” as well as Ed Sheeran for “Stan.”
“Even though I don’t know a lot about rap music, I’ve come to know that you are the very best at it,” she wrote. “I have always felt some unexplained connection to you like I know you somehow.”
Parton added that she had hoped to meet the rapper during the ceremony, but missed her opportunity amid the commotion: “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 two were inducted into the Rock Hall along with Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, and Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. Eminem entered in his first year of eligibility and was inducted by longtime collaborator Dr. Dre, while P!NK did the honors for Parton. The Tennessee native had initially attempted to withdraw herself from consideration because she did not believe she had “earned that right,” but ultimately accepted the honor.
“I’m a rockstar now,” she told the audience. “I’m sure a lot of you knew that back when they said they were gonna put me in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I didn’t really feel like I had done enough to deserve that. And I didn’t understand at the time that it’s about more than that, but I’m just honored and so proud to be here tonight.”
She closed out the ceremony with a performance of “Jolene” alongside an all-star cast that included Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, Rob Halford of Judas Priest and many more.
See how other musicians and celebrities have remembered Dolly, and revisit our November 2023 cover story featuring Parton in conversation with Paramore’s Hayley Williams.
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
