Dolly Parton shockingly passed away at the age of 80, and the entire world is mourning. Tributes have poured in from the likes of Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, and Reba McEntire. There are the odd surprising ones that you wouldn’t think of, such as Julia Quinn, until you think about the work Parton did in encouraging children to love reading.
However, the most surprising but heartwarming tribute has come from rap icon Eminem. The superstar took to Instagram to share his heartfelt words, along with a letter that Parton once wrote him.
Eminem Shares Dolly Parton’s Words
GettyAs country music stars share their memories of the “9-to-5” singer, many never expected Eminem to share his own. He doesn’t have a memory of ever meeting her, but it was something it turns out that both icons wished for. Others included images of them with Parton at various events, whether it was filming moments or during her appearance on “The Voice,” but the “Without Me” rapper shared an image of a letter he once received.
After being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Parton sent him a letter to share how happy she was for him. She even made it clear that she didn’t know much about rap music, but she knew that this man was “the very best at it,” and she’d made it clear that she wished that she had met him that night. In the end, the event was wild, and she admitted that “I missed my chance but maybe someday we’ll meet.”
In the end, that chance never happened, but the two shared a connection that so few others would. It didn’t matter that they came from different worlds; the “Real Slim Shady” rapper made it clear that the letter “had a an [sic] impact on me.” They are some beautiful words from one superstar to another.
Fans React to Eminem’s Tribute to Dolly Parton
GettyFans took to the comments to share their own heartbreak and thoughts. They quickly touched on the letter that the “Jolene” singer wrote, sharing how beautiful a soul she always had.
One fan commented, “Oh my God! What a beautiful letter from Dolly! 😭💕”
Another shared, “Goodness, that is quite the thing to cherish Sir. She was such a sweet soul.”
A third suggested that Eminem follow in her footsteps in his own way, saying, “Now you have the opportunity to take the time to uplift other artists just like she did you.”
A cause of death for Parton hasn’t yet been shared, but the news was shocking despite many fearing for her health over recent months. Just last year, she had initially postponed and then canceled her Las Vegas residency due to health problems, and while she would remain positive, she later admitted that her health had worsened since the passing of her husband, Carl Dean. She had been hospitalized days before her death, but her family shared that she passed peacefully.
The “Coat of Many Colors” singer will go down as a Queen of Country, with six decades of success. She was more than just a singer, sharing her support for the LGBTQ+ community over and over again, while also donating toward medical needs, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Eminem put it, she was “a superstar in every sense.”
