Billy Ray Cyrus kept one handwritten note from Dolly Parton private for more than three decades. One month after her death, he finally decided to show it.
The country singer shared the 1992 letter on September 25 to mark “9 to 5 Day,” describing it as one of his most prized possessions. Cyrus had never previously made the note public, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Parton gave him the letter only a few weeks after they first met in Chicago that spring. “Achy Breaky Heart” was beginning to take off, but Cyrus’ debut album, Some Gave All, had not yet been released.
Her message mixed encouragement with the humor that would become familiar throughout their decades-long friendship. Parton told Cyrus she thought he was special, wished him greater success and joked about stumbling over her words when they met.
Parton Offered Her Support as Cyrus’ Career Was Taking Off
Parton opened the note by telling Cyrus she was glad they would be working together and had been looking forward to it. She wrote that she was proud of what was happening for him and believed more success was ahead.
Parton also thanked Cyrus for offering to sign photographs for her young relatives, whom she described as his fans. Good Morning America reported that she closed the letter by returning the favor, telling him to reach out if he ever needed anything.
Some Gave All was released soon afterward and became a major commercial success, while “Achy Breaky Heart” established Cyrus as one of country’s biggest new stars.
Parton Joked About Her Reaction When They First Met
The letter also preserved Parton’s memory of meeting Cyrus for the first time. She apologized for stammering and joked that she was “just like all the other girls,” only a little older.
The two soon worked together on “Romeo,” Parton’s collaboration with Cyrus, Tanya Tucker, Kathy Mattea, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Pam Tillis. The song appeared on Parton’s 1993 album Slow Dancing With the Moon.
Parton later became godmother to Cyrus’ daughter Miley, strengthening a friendship that extended to the next generation. She also appeared alongside Billy Ray and Miley on Hannah Montana, playing Miley Stewart’s godmother.
Cyrus recalled years of shared television appearances and other projects when he posted the letter, describing a friendship that continued long after the early encouragement preserved in Parton’s note.
Cyrus Keeps Parton’s Letter Beside One From Johnny Cash
Cyrus said Parton’s handwritten message has long sat beside another letter he considers one of his most prized possessions, a personal note from Johnny Cash.
He grouped Cash and Parton together as two of his heroes who had taken the time to share their thoughts directly with a young singer from Kentucky. The letters remained important enough to Cyrus that he kept both of them for decades.
His musical connection with Parton continued into the final years of her career. They reunited for “Christmas Where We Are,” a duet included on her 2020 album A Holly Dolly Christmas.
When Cyrus finally shared Parton’s letter on September 25, he did not offer an elaborate explanation for ending its decades of privacy. “Today felt like the right day to share it,” he wrote.
