During her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Dolly Parton sang a triumphal version of “Jolene.” Among the many famous people who joined the Queen of Country for her performance of the hit were Pink, Sheryl Crow, Rob Halford, Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Brandi Carlile, and Simon Le Bon. The country music icon seemed to be celebrating a triumph during the performance, which exuded an electric energy.
Pink sung the first line after Parton sang the opening hook and a duet with her. Evidently thrilled to be in the same room as the legendary Dolly Parton, Pink’s expression said it all. After the next verse, which was sung by Annie Lennox of Eurythmics, the star-studded vocal line joined in on the chorus. The lineup of A-listers continued to roll in at a dizzying rate, with Rob Halford, the metal god, Pat Benatar, and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran all taking turns rapping.
Over one million people watched the live version of “Jolene” on YouTube, a testament to how popular the performance was in the audience. Dolly Parton “has music flowing through her soul,” one YouTube commenter wrote. No matter who she sings with, her voice will harmonize flawlessly. I adore Dolly Parton’s uplifting, life-affirming energy, and her pure skill. Her personality is full of innovation and her heart is really kind. Praise be to God!
At the 37th annual ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California, on November 5, 2022, Pink inducted Dolly Parton into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On that same night, Judas Priest, Carly Simon, Jimmy Jam, Neil Giraldo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, and Lionel Richie were among the other honorees. Parton sang two songs at the ceremony, “Rockin’ It” being the other, accompanied by the Zac Brown Band.
Parton first intended to back out of her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after hearing the news because she didn’t think she deserved the honor. The country singer reconsidered and proceeded with the induction after some thought. Parton made the bold statement, “I’m a rock star now!” during her acceptance speech. Then she explained why she was hesitant to accept the honor, explaining, “I’m sure a lot of you knew that back when they said they were gonna put me in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I didn’t feel like I had done enough to deserve that.” Also, there’s more to it than that, which I failed to grasp when it happened. Being here tonight is an honor, and I couldn’t be prouder.
