Eminem shares heartfelt note Dolly Parton sent him after Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction

Eminem has revealed a deeply personal message Dolly Parton sent him in 2022, after he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In the note, the country music icon congratulated the rapper on the honour, praised his performance and told him she had always felt an unexplained connection to him.

Eminem shared the previously unseen letter as he paid tribute to Parton following her death on Tuesday, 25 August, at the age of 80. Her family confirmed the news, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across music, film and politics.

Dolly Parton’s message to Eminem

Parton’s note was written after Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022. Parton was also inducted that year.

Addressing him as Marshall, Parton congratulated him on the achievement and said she had heard that his performance had been a standout.

Although she admitted that she did not know much about rap music, she told Eminem that she had come to recognise him as one of the best artists in the genre.

The message then became more personal. Parton wrote that she hoped what she was about to say would not sound strange, but that she had always felt “some unexplained connection” to him, as though she somehow knew him.

She also explained that she had hoped to meet him at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. The event was hectic, however, and she said she had missed her opportunity.

Parton ended the note by encouraging Eminem to continue doing what he was doing. She told him that his work was meaningful and reminded him that, regardless of how complicated his world might become, he was special and could affect people in ways he might never realise.

The letter was signed with “love and respect” from Parton.

Eminem says the letter stayed with him

Sharing the note on social media, Eminem expressed regret that he and Parton never had the chance to meet in person.

He said receiving the message had made a lasting impression on him, particularly because Parton had taken the time to write to him despite having no obligation to do so.

For Eminem, Parton’s status extended far beyond her country music career. He recalled growing up primarily listening to rap, yet still regarded Parton as an icon and “a superstar in every sense.”

He ended his tribute by thanking her for her kindness and words, before saying: “Rest easy Dolly.”

Eminem’s tribute has since become one of the more personal responses to Parton’s death, offering a glimpse into a connection between two artists from very different musical worlds. Their paths crossed through the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but they never ultimately met.

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

Dolly Parton remembered after her death

Parton’s death was announced in a short video shared by her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver. He said his aunt had asked him to deliver the news when the time came.

A statement from Parton’s team subsequently celebrated her seven-decade career and the qualities that made her such a widely loved figure. It highlighted her music and songwriting, as well as her wit, warmth and kindness, describing her legacy as one rooted in love, compassion and resilience.

Tributes quickly followed from figures across the entertainment industry and beyond. Parton, widely known as the “Queen of Country,” was remembered not only for her music but also for the influence she had on generations of artists and fans.

Her career included some of country music’s most enduring songs, and her influence extended well beyond recording and performing. Her philanthropic work also became a defining part of her public legacy, helping cement her reputation as an artist whose impact reached far beyond the stage.

Donald Trump orders flags to be flown at half-staff

The tributes also extended into American politics.

President Donald Trump paid tribute to Parton on Truth Social after news of her death, calling her “one of the greatest Country singers, and far beyond, EVER” and describing her death as a loss for millions of people.

Trump also ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff across the United States in her honour. The presidential proclamation directs that the flags remain at half-staff through sunset on 1 September 2026.

In his message, Trump said there had never been anyone like Parton and that there never would be. He concluded by expressing his condolences and saying that the world loved her.

For Eminem, however, Parton’s legacy was captured in something much more intimate: a handwritten message from an artist he admired, sent years before her death.

Though they never got to meet, the note gave Eminem a personal connection to Parton that he chose to share with the world after her passing. Her words, written after his 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, offered encouragement from one music legend to another and became part of his farewell to an artist he considered an icon.