When Dolly Parton first learned she was on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot in 2022, she didn’t quite get it. She just felt like she’d been a country artist from the very beginning, and didn’t belong in the club. But if they can’t go there to be recognized, where can they go?
And so I felt like I was 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.” Unsurprisingly, Parton got enough votes to enter the Hall of Fame that year, joining a class that also included Eminem, Judas Priest, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Pat Benatar, Lionel Richie, and Carly Simon. I’m sure a lot of you knew that back when they said they were gonna put me in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I didn’t feel like I had done enough to deserve that.
And I didn’t understand at the time that it’s about more than that. But I’m just so honored and so proud to be here tonight.” She began the performance segment by debuting her new song “Rockin’ It” (“Y’all put me in the Hall of Fame, so I guess there ain’t no shame!/And I’ll be rockin’ it ’til the cows come home”), and then brought many of the night’s inductees and presenters onto the stage to join her for “Jolene.” Trending Stories Dolly Parton, Hardscrabble Storyteller Turned Global Entertainer, Dead at 80 Photographer Linda McCartney to Be Honored With USPS Stamp Collection White House Crops Natalie Harp Out of Grand Prix Content Dolly Parton Shares Health Update With Fans: ‘I’m Still Healin,’ I’m Still Workin’’ It was an amazing sight to witness Dolly holding court in the center of the stage while Rob Halford, Simon Le Bon, Pink, Sheryl Crow, Pat Benatar, Brandi Carlile, Annie Lennox, and others all stood around her, waiting for their moment to grab a line. A beaming Halford even put his arm around her, and she and the Judas Priest frontman locked voices on the chorus, giving photographers an iconic photo to sum up the entire evening. (Sadly, Eminem remained backstage.) The next year, Parton stuck to her word by releasing Rockstar.
It featured a stunning lineup of guests — including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Steve Perry, John Fogerty, Steven Tyler, Stevie Nicks, Peter Frampton, Joan Jett, Pink, Brandi Carlile, Elton John, and her good buddy Rob Halford — because nobody would have dreamed of saying no to Dolly.
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