Dolly Parton makes Rock & Roll Hall of Fame U-turn

She will now accept her honour if she's inducted

Dolly Parton

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 3rd May 2022
Last updated 3rd May 2022

Country icon Dolly Parton has dropped her plan to withdraw from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shortlist.

After being named among the 17 eclectic acts on the shortlist for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2022, Dolly Parton issued an official statement on 14th March saying she does not “feel that I have earned (the) right” to be included on the Rock Hall’s list.

She also explained that she did not “want votes to be split because of me” so she must “respectfully bow out.”

A few days later, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame issued a highly complementary statement praising the singer but insisting that she’s still on the ballot.

Now, in a fresh interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, Dolly says she’s had a change of heart after learning that the Rock Hall is more musically eclectic than its name suggests.

Asked what she’ll do if she’s inducted, the 76-year-old said: "I’ll accept gracefully and I’ll accept it because the fans vote."

"It was always my belief that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was for people in rock music," she continued. “I have found out lately that it’s not necessarily that.

"But if they can’t go there to be recognised, where do they go? So I just felt like I was taking away from someone that maybe deserved it certainly more than me, because I never considered myself a rock artist. But obviously, there’s more to it than that."

Over the weekend, the top five artists in the Rock Hall’s fan vote were revealed with Duran Duran coming out on top ahead of Eminem, Pat Benatar, Eurythmics and Dolly Parton.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022 inductees will be revealed later this month and the ceremony will take place in the autumn.