Billy Ray Cyrus Shares One of His ‘Most Prized Possessions,’ a Beautiful Handwritten Dolly Parton Letter: ‘I Too Think You Are Special!’

Billy Ray Cyrus joined millions around the country on Friday (Sept. 25) in celebrating late Queen of Country Dolly Parton on the 9-25 day dedicated to one of the beloved singer’s most enduring No. 1 hits, “9 to 5,” by sharing one of his most prized possessions.

“Never have I shared this… until now. I’ve posted one of my most prized possessions before: a handwritten letter from Johnny Cash. This one sits right beside it,” he said of the handwritten note from Parton on flowery stationary he posted on Instagram. “To me they go together … Brother Cash and Sister Parton. They are the hearts and minds of two of my heroes that both took the time to express their most personal and sincere thoughts to an ole Kentucky Boy.”

Cyrus, 65, said Parton gave him the letter a few weeks after they first met in Chicago in the spring of 1992, just as his breakthrough Billboard Hot 100 Nov. 4 hit “Achy Breaky Heart” was starting to climb the charts.

“Soon after I received this letter, we’d go on to sing ‘Romeo’ together with Tanya Tucker, Kathy Mattea and Mary Chapin Carpenter [in January 1993],” Cyrus continued in the caption. “So many memories and moments with Dolly, from network television specials to Hannah Montana. More than 30 years later, we’d do our last song together, ‘Christmas Where We Are.’ Today felt like the right day to share it. Shine on, Dolly. ❤️”

“Billy, I am glad to be working with you. I’ve been looking forward to it for a few weeks now,” Parton wrote in looping cursive in the personal message. “I’m proud of what’s going on with you. I too think you are special! I wish you even more success in the years to come.” 

Parton, who died at age 80 on Aug. 25 following a brief battle with cancer, then apologized for how she acted when they met. “I’m sorry if I stammered and stuttered when I met you, but I’m just like all the other girls these days (Just a little older! Ha!),” wrote Parton, who would go on to be godmother to Cyrus’ daughter, Miley Cyrus. “Thanks for the offer to sign pictures for my gang — your fans! They will love me for it. Same goes if you need anything. Love, Dolly.”

The post also featured a snap of Cyrus and Parton sitting cheek-to-cheek, with his legendary mullet and Canadian tuxedo giving Dolly’s towering blonde wig and canary yellow dress a run for their money in the flair department.