Dolly Parton’s letter to Eminem shows how to make a connection that lasts

Dolly Parton's letter to Eminem had an impact on him because "she definitely didn't have to take the time to do it," he wrote.

David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Dolly Parton's letter to Eminem shows the power of a thoughtful, unexpected note.

Networking is strongest when it isn't transactional, workplace observers told Business Insider.

The best connectors share attention and make it less about themselves.

Beyond her 9-to-5 as a performer and prolific songwriter, Dolly Parton was also a master of connection.

That was clear in a letter she sent Eminem, whose given name is Marshall Mathers, following his 2022 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In a post on X on Tuesday following Parton's death at age 80 , the rapper wrote that Parton's words had an impact on him, in part because "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," Eminem said, saying that the two never got a chance to meet.

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 In the letter he posted, Parton offered praise while acknowledging that she didn't know much about rap.

"I've come to know that you are the very best at it," she wrote.