Dolly Parton touched countless lives, and Eminem has now shown that he was one of them. Following her passing, Eminem shared a note from Dolly and paid his respect.
It is an unexpected connection – the music legend who transcended all genre boundaries and the Rap God. Their paths had almost crossed at Eminem’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Almost, but not quite. Still, Dolly was so impressed by Em’s performance that she sent him a letter. There is nothing generic about this short note. It carries Dolly’s recognisable intonation and shows her curiosity, her openness, and her kind heart, qualities for which she will be remembered alongside her music.
Eminem shared the note only now:
Marshall (Eminem),
Congratulations on your induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 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. 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.
With love & respect,
Dolly Parton
Now, years later, on the day when the world lost Dolly, Eminem grieves and shows that Dolly’s reach extended even to a rap kid:
I’m sorry we never got a chance to meet, but getting this note from Dolly really had 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 you for the kind words.
Dolly never got to meet Eminem, and Eminem never got to thank her in person. But he kept the note. Now, sharing it became its own kind of goodbye.