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Dolly Parton still up for Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction, whether she likes it or not

By Andy Malt | Published on Friday 18 March 2022

Dolly Parton remains on the ballot for this year’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, despite her asking to be removed earlier this week. Even though Parton said that she doesn’t feel she’s “earned” the right to be considered “rock n roll”, the Hall says that’s up to the voters to decide.

In a statement at the beginning of this week, while she sat in fourth position in the Hall Of Fame’s fan vote, Parton said: “Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & 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”.

She added that the nomination had convinced her that she should record a rock n roll album, after which she hoped that she might be considered again. Although, of course, the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame museum considers entire careers when deciding who to include, rather than individual albums, so I’m not sure that would help to tip the balance. Plus, as everyone except Parton seems to know, the Hall has quite a broad definition of rock n roll.

Actually, by Thursday, she had learned more about that, but nevertheless said in an interview on Fox & Friends that she still felt the same as she had on Monday, explaining: “I just feel like that’s more for the people in rock music. I’ve been educated since then, saying that it’s more than that, but I still didn’t feel right about it. It kind of would be like putting AC/DC in the Country Music Hall Of Fame. That just felt a little out of place for me”.

So, Dolly doesn’t want in. But that doesn’t mean she’s out. With voting well under way, almost 300,000 votes have been cast for her on the fan ballot, and because of that the Hall is not about to pull her out of the running.

“All of us in the music community have seen Dolly Parton’s thoughtful note expressing her feeling that she has not earned the right to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame”, organisers said in a statement yesterday. “In addition to her incredible talent as an artist, her humility is another reason Dolly is a beloved icon by millions of fans around the world”.

“From its inception, rock n roll has had deep roots in rhythm & blues and country music”, they go on. “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 & Roll Hall Of Fame followed the same process as all other artists who have been considered”.

“Dolly’s nomination, along with the other sixteen for the class of 2022, was sent out earlier this month to our 1200 general ballot voters, the majority of whom are artists themselves, for consideration for induction at our ceremony”, the statement concludes. “We are in awe of Dolly’s brilliant talent and pioneering spirit and are proud to have nominated her for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame”.

So, if the fan vote reflects the broader feeling of those general ballot voters, it looks like Parton will be inducted into the Hall later this year whether she likes it or not. And she wouldn’t be the first in the “or not” camp. Although she’s possibly the first to go around telling everyone she simply doesn’t deserve the honour of induction.