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Billy Ray Cyrus is giving fans a glimpse at a personal keepsake from his decades-long friendship with Dolly Parton.
On Friday, Sept. 25, the country singer shared a photo of a handwritten letter Parton gave him shortly after they first met in Chicago in 1992. Cyrus said the note is one of his most treasured possessions and has never shared it publicly until now.
At the time, Cyrus was just beginning to make a name for himself with "Achy Breaky Heart," while his debut album Some Gave All had yet to be released.
Parton's letter was filled with encouragement, and a little flirtatious humor.
"Billy, I'm glad to be working with you. I've been looking forward to it for a few weeks now. I'm proud of what's going on with you. I too think you are special. I wish you even more in the years to come," she wrote.
She then poked fun at herself over their first meeting.
"I'm sorry I stammered and blushed when I met you but I'm just like all the other girls these days (just a little older)," Parton wrote.
She also thanked Cyrus for offering to sign photos for her nieces, adding, "They will love me for it. Same goes if you need . Love Dolly."
Cyrus said the letter sits beside another treasured note from one of his musical heroes, Johnny Cash.
"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," he wrote on Instagram.
His friendship with Parton would grow far beyond that first meeting. The two later performed "Romeo" alongside Tanya Tucker, Kathy Mattea and Mary Chapin Carpenter, appeared together on television specials and worked together on Hannah Montana.
Parton also became part of Cyrus' family. After his daughter Miley Cyrus was born in 1992, he asked Parton to be her godmother.
Cyrus recently remembered their friendship following Parton's death at 80 on Aug. 25. He recalled once visiting her dressing room after tabloids claimed the two were having an affair.
According to Cyrus, Parton simply winked and told him, "Honey, this trash sells records!"
More than three decades after their first meeting, the pair recorded their final song together, "Christmas Where We Are."
"Today felt like the right day to share it. Shine on, Dolly. ❤️" Cyrus wrote.
