QUEEN.
What else is there to say about the one and only Dolly Parton at this point?
She’s accomplished almost any and everything you can dream of in the realm of country music, has launched multiple, very successful businesses, starred in Hollywood movies, is active in giving back in all sorts of philanthropic efforts, and is both a country and pop culture icon.
And honestly, I probably missed a few things in that description, but you get the point.
Last weekend, she was officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which included some great performances from tons of artists in her honor, including Dolly herself.
After initially declining the invitation, the country music legend was inducted as one of the members in the 2022 class, alongside the likes of Eminem, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon.
Judas Priest and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis received the Musical Excellence Award, Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotten the Early Influence Award, and Allen Grubman, Jimmy Iovine, and Sylvia Robinson the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Dave Grohl, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Rodrigo, Bruce Springsteen, Zac Brown, Brandi Carlile, Lenny Kravitz, and more were on hand for introduction, presentations and performances… it was a star-studded night.
Dolly recently announced that she’ll be working on a rock album in the wake of this big announcement, and during the show, she debuted a brand new rock song she’ll likely include on that record.
And not only that, but she absolutely slayed a bedazzled electric guitar on stage, announcing to the audience she wants to earn her spot there (which is partially why she initially declined the invitation), ripping a few AC/DC style chords and saying:
“Well, I figured if I’m gonna be in the rock and roll hall of fame, I’m gonna have to earn it.
And you thought I couldn’t rock!”
Is there another artist on the planet who would debut a new tune in a completely new genre at their own Hall of Fame induction?
I don’t think so…
Of course, the song is great, as Dolly essentially explains that her heart is and always will be in country music, but she has a deep love for rock music too.
She looks incredible, and can still command a room like nobody’s business, even one full of music royalty from across genres and generations.
I know she’s a humble woman who would never give herself this kinda credit, but we’ve all always known she’s a bona fide rockstar, and here’s one more reason why:
Here’s the great performance of “Jolene” alongside a star-studded cast:
And the tribute by Pink and Brandi Carlile sining “Coat of Many Colors”:
