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Juicy J Reveals Dolly Parton’s Shocking Letter After Three 6 Mafia Beat Her For Oscar

Written by on 08/29/2026

Juicy J reveals how Dolly Parton sent Three 6 Mafia a congratulatory letter after they beat her for the 2006 Oscar for Best Original Song.

Juicy J and Project Pat are still reflecting on one of Hip-Hop’s most historic moments and the grace Dolly Parton showed them that night.

Twenty years ago, Three 6 Mafia made Oscar history. On March 5, 2006, the Memphis rap group won Best Original Song for “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow, becoming the first Hip-Hop group ever to take home an Academy Award.

But here’s what made the night even more special: Dolly Parton was nominated in the same category. She was up for “Travelin’ Thru.”

Nobody expected a rap song to beat out the competition that year, especially not against a country legend.

When Three 6 Mafia’s name was called, Parton was among the first to celebrate. The camera caught her cheering louder than almost anyone else in the room.

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What happened next showed exactly why Parton became a legend.

About a week after the Oscars, Three 6 Mafia got a letter in the mail. It was from Dolly herself. She’d taken the time to write them a personal note.

“We didn’t hear from her till like a week later. She sent us a letter and she signed it and said congratulations and I’m glad somebody from Tennessee won the Oscar,” Juicy J recalled.

The message was pure Dolly. She wasn’t bitter about losing. She wasn’t upset that a rap group beat her. Instead, she was genuinely happy that the Oscar stayed in Tennessee.

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Juicy J also shared that he got to meet Parton before they even hit the stage.

The 2006 Oscars became a turning point for Hip-Hop. Three 6 Mafia proved that rap music belonged on the biggest stages.