Millions of people think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should stick to honoring musicians who actually play rock music instead of inducting rappers and dance-pop superstars, but it took Dolly Parton to call them out on it.
Parton told the institution she was withdrawing her name from consideration, and she did it with a classy written statement, saying “Even though I’m extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock and 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. … This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock ‘n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!”
As this article points out, though she had some crossover hits Parton was a country artist. Unlike pop and hip-hop, country music already has a Hall of Fame, and Dolly Parton has a prominent place in it.
She’d deserve it even if she had never had another hit after this song, the self-penned title track from her 13th solo LP, released in 1973. Parton said it was inspired by a bank clerk who flirted with her husband when they were newlyweds. It became her second country No. 1 and is her most-covered song.
The song started as pure country, but it gets mad props from rockers, including the White Stripes.
