Dolly Reconsiders Rock Hall Induction
• Global icon Dolly Parton now says that she’ll accept her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, if she’s voted in, after having previously stated she wanted to bow out of consideration.
As Variety reports, Parton made the remarks last Friday while appearing on NPR’s Morning Edition, as the host pointed out that she had not actually been removed from the ballot, and asked what she would do if the voters move to put her in the hall despite her declared wishes. “Well, I’ll accept gracefully,” she said. “I will say ‘thanks’ and accept that.”
Parton noted that when she originally stated that she wanted to decline the honor, she didn’t realize that there were already so many artists from other genres that are only rock-adjacent already in the hall, as she remarked, “When I said that, It was always my belief that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was for the people in rock music. And I have found out lately it’s not necessarily that. But if they can’t go there to be recognized, where do they go? And so I felt like I would be taking away from someone that maybe deserved it, certainly more than me since I never considered myself a rock artist. But obviously, there’s more to it than that.”
Parton had also believed that the Rock Hall powers-that-be could have simply removed her name from the ballot; however, the Hall declined her request, saying that it would not be taking her off, and that it would follow the will of the 1,000+ industry voters who had already received a ballot bearing her name.
As the Variety piece says, “Parton was considered a shoo-in when the nominees were first announced, and after she said she’d like to bow out, some members of the voting rolls said online that they were honoring her wishes, while others said they were voting for her anyway.” The Class of 2022 will be announced later this month, with the induction ceremony scheduled for October.
