Dolly Parton: Honored By Pink, Jams With Legends At Rock Hall Induction
Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night in Los Angeles. She exclaimed from the stage, “I’m a rock star now!”
Earlier this year, however, she expressed reservations about being nominated. In March, Dolly requested that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame take her name off the ballot. She said, “Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right. I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.” But by that time, the ballots had gone out. The Rock Hall responded, saying, “From its inception, Rock and Roll has had deep roots in Rhythm & Blues and Country music. It is not defined by any one genre, rather a sound that moves youth culture. Dolly Parton’s music impacted a generation of young fans and influenced countless artists that followed. Her nomination to be considered for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame followed the same process as all other artists who have been considered.” Other country artists have been indudcted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame include Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.
Dolly then acquiesced, saying that she’d accept the honor if she was voted in. And, indeed she was, along with Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Carly Simon, the Eurythmics, Lionel Richie and Eminem, among others. Pink had the honor of presenting her last night at the induction ceremony,. She noted that Parton is “one of the greatest storytellers of our time… of all time,” according to Yahoo!. She added, per Ultimate Classic Rock, “There are few finer songwriters, male or female, that ever lived. … She writes about things that others would prefer to be swept under the rug.”
Per Vulture, Dolly said during her speech, “I’m a rock star now! This is a very, very, very special night. I still got rock and roll down in my country soul.”
Pink, along with Brandi Carlile, paid tribute to Dolly by performing “Coat of Many Colors,” followed by Sheryl Crow and the Zac Brown Band performing “9 To 5.” Parton then returned to the stage, playing a black electric guitar, to perform a new song, “Rockin’,” which said she wrote for the occasion. She was then joined by Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Brandi Carlile, Pink, Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox, and Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon for a set-closing rendition of “Jolene.” You can watch an edited version of last night’s induction ceremony on HBO and HBO Max on Saturday, November 19th at 8 pm ET.
21 Rock And Pop Songs That Dolly Parton Made Her Own
