Billy Ray Cyrus Shares a Private 1992 Letter from Dolly Parton on Dolly Day

# What happened

On September 25, Billy Ray Cyrus posted a photo of a handwritten letter Dolly Parton wrote to him in 1992. Cyrus framed the post as a personal tribute on Dolly Day, the date fans have chosen to recognize Parton's music and memory.

# Why the letter matters to Cyrus

Chicago in the spring of 1992, at a moment when Cyrus's hit "Achy Breaky Heart" was beginning to gain attention and his album Some Gave All had not yet been released. Cyrus said the letter predated their later collaborations and shared moments in public and television appearances.

# What the letter says

Cyrus shared the contents of the note in his post. In it, Parton wrote she was glad to be working with him, had been looking forward to it for weeks, and said she was proud of what was happening in his career. She told him she thought he was special and wished him more success in the years to come. In a light, self-aware line, Parton apologized for stammering and blushing when they first met and added she was "just like all the other girls these days (just a little older)."

# The relationship that followed

Cyrus noted the letter came before they recorded together. He and Parton later sang "Romeo" along with Tanya Tucker, Kathy Mattea, and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Cyrus also recounted many shared memories, pointing to network TV specials and their appearances on Hannah Montana. He mentioned a final recorded song together titled "Christmas Where We Are." Cyrus used his post to celebrate those memories and to honor Parton's influence on him and the country music community.

# Why readers might care

The post connects two moments in country music history: the early rise of Billy Ray Cyrus and the private gestures Dolly Parton made toward younger artists. For fans of either artist, the letter is a tangible example of how Parton supported fellow performers and how those early interactions shaped later collaborations.

# Bottom line

Cyrus chose Dolly Day to make public a note he had kept for more than 30 years. The letter is short, cordial, and encouraging — and Cyrus presented it as part of a map of his long-standing friendship and professional relationship with Parton.