Dolly Parton may not be a traditional rockstar, but the country music icon is singing a different tune about her induction into this year’s Rock&Roll Hall of Fame class.
Following the announcement of her induction Wednesday, Parton Told Billboard that while she had her reservations about accepting the honor, she feels “great” about it now.
“I feel honored that all the people who voted for me did. And I appreciate the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame people for staying there with me,” Parton told the outlet in an interview published Wednesday. “I never meant to cause trouble or stir up any controversy.”
She continued: “It was just always my belief — and I think millions of other people out there too — always thought the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was just set up for the greatest people in the rock ‘n’ roll business, and I just didn’t feel like I really measured up to that and I don’t want to take anything away from the people that have worked so hard.”
‘I’ll accept gracefully’:Dolly Parton flips on possible Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction
In March, Parton asked to be withdrawn from the Hall of Fame 2022 ballot in a social media statementsaying she didn’t feel she “earned the right.”
The Grammy-winning singer was part of a nominee class that featured artists such as EminemBeck, Duran Duran, A Tribe Called Quest and Lionel Richie.
Background:Dolly Parton ‘respectfully’ removes herself from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame consideration
While rare, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction for a Country Music Hall of Fame artist isn’t unprecedented. An elite class of artists — including Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Elvis PresleyChet Atkins, Hank Williams and The Everly Brothersamong others — can be found in both prestigious clubs.
Parton tweeted Wednesday she felt “honored and humbled” to be inducted: “Of course, I will accept gracefully,” she wrote. “I will continue to work hard and try to live up to the honor.”
The singer said she also took into consideration the feelings of her rock music peers who have yet to be recognized by the Hall in her initial thoughts on her nomination.
“I even have a lot of my rock ‘n’ roll friends and people that are, you know, to the point of being bitter about the fact that they’re not being nominated or in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Parton said. “I was trying to be nice and good about not trying to take something away from somebody that had truly earned it.”
Not just Dolly:The 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, Eminem and more
Dolly Parton is in:Now it’s time to get these country greats into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The “Jolene” singer said she doesn’t know if she’ll attend her induction ceremony, set for Nov. 5 in Los Angelesbut if she does, she’s “going to sing the hardest style rock ‘n’ roll song I could ever muster up just to show that I can do it.”
Parton added that she’s “always wanted to do a great rock album,” citing the influence of Mick Jagger and his band The Rolling Stones.
“I’m hoping we’re both around long enough when I get to doing this record that he’ll come sing with me, and I may have to use The Rolling Stones to play behind me,” Parton said. “I might do something like that — try to get some different rock bands, some of the classic bands — to back me on some of the songs I do and then do two or three or four originals.”
She added: “Now I may have to call my album ‘Rock Star.’ ”
‘We are in awe of Dolly’:Rock & Roll Hall of Fame won’t pull Dolly Parton from ballot
‘Dreams really do come true!’:Reese Witherspoon to adapt Dolly Parton’s ‘Run, Rose Run’ into a movie
Contributing: Matthew Leimkuehler, Nashville Tennessean
feeds.feedblitz.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism