BLABBERMOUTH.NET
The organizers of the
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame have declined
Dolly Parton's request to pull her nomination.
On Monday (March 14), the 76-year-old country music legend asked the
Hall to withdraw her name from the 2022 ballot, saying "I don't feel that I have earned the right. I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out."
Parton was one of 17 artists nominated for the
Rock Hall class of 2022, along with
JUDAS PRIEST,
Eminem,
Lionel Richie,
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and
Beck, among others.
Ballots are cast by an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists — including previous inductees — historians, music industry members and critics. Factors considered by voters consider include "an artist's musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique," according to a statement issued by the
Hall.
Earlier today, the organization confirmed that
Dolly will remain on the ballot, in part because voting is already well underway.
"All of us in the music community have seen
Dolly Parton's thoughtful note expressing her feeling that she has not earned the right to be inducted into the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame," the
Rock Hall's statement read. "In addition to her incredible talent as an artist, her humility is another reason
Dolly is a beloved icon by millions of fans around the world.
"From its inception, Rock & Roll has had deep roots in Rhythm & Blues and Country music. It is not defined by any one genre, rather a sound that moves youth culture.
Dolly Parton's music impacted a generation of young fans and influenced countless artists that followed. Her nomination to be considered for induction into to the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame followed the same process as all other artists who have been considered.
"
Dolly's nomination, along with the other 16 for the class of 2022 was sent out earlier this month to our 1,200 general ballot voters, the majority of whom are artists themselves, for consideration for induction at our ceremony.
"We are in awe of
Dolly's brilliant talent and pioneering spirit and are proud to have nominated her for induction into the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame."
Earlier in the day, during an interview on
"Fox & Friends",
Parton doubled down on her discomfort with being included in the
Hall's pantheon.
"Well, I didn't feel exactly right about that because my perception, and I think the perception of most of America, I just feel like that’s more for the people in rock music," she said. "I've been educated since then, saying that it’s more than that, but I still didn't feel right about it. It kind of would be like putting
AC/DC in the
Country Music Hall Of Fame. That just felt a little out of place for me."
To be eligible for this year's ballot, each nominee's first single or album had to have been released in 1996 or earlier.
Inductees will be announced in May. The
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2022 induction ceremony will take place this fall. The date, venue, and on-sale information will be announced later.
The 2022
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees were announced last month, with
Dolly appearing on the ballot for the first time.
Parton told
Billboard last month that she never thought of herself as a rock 'n' roller "in any sense of the word, but I guess they judge it on the music and the influence certain songs have had, and I guess I've had songs with other people in that realm," she said: "I'm not expecting that I'll get in. But if I do, I'll immediately, next year, have to put out a great rock and roll album — which I've wanted to do for years, like a
Linda Ronstadt or
HEART kind of thing."
Parton was inducted into the
Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1986, the
Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1999 and the national
Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2001.
Dolly is the most honored and revered female country singer-songwriter of all time. Achieving 25
RIAA-certified gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards, she has had 26 songs reach No. 1 on the
Billboard country charts, a record for a female artist. Recently,
Parton reached No. 1 on the
Billboard Christian Airplay chart for the first time for her duet with
Grammy Award-winning
Zach Williams of
"There Was Jesus", for which they won a
Grammy, making that her 11th
Grammy win. She received her first
Dove Award for short-form video for her collaboration with
KING & COUNTRY on the song
"God Only Knows".
Parton is the first artist to have topped
Billboard's Adult Contemporary, Christian AC Songs, Hot Country Songs, Christian Airplay, Country Airplay and Dance/Mix Show Airplay radio charts.
Parton recently became the first country artist honored as
Grammy MusiCares Person Of The Year given out by
NARAS. She has 44 career Top 10 country albums, a record for any artist, and 110 career-charted singles over the past 50-plus years.
Photo credit:
Stacie Huckeba