Despite Dolly Parton‘s request earlier this week to be removed from this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees, the Hall has declined to pull her nomination. In a post on social media yesterday (Thursday, March 17th), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame wrote in part, “Dolly’s nomination, along with the other 16 artists 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 and Roll Hall of Fame.”
On Monday (March 14th), Dolly turned to social media writing that while she was “flattered and grateful” for the nomination, she “must respectfully bow out.” She explained, “I don’t feel I have earned that right. I really do not want votes split because of me . . . ”
The Tennessean reports that prior to the Hall’s public decision to keep her name on the ballot, Dolly appeared on Fox & Friends yesterday morning where she said, “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. 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.”
At press time, Dolly had not reacted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s decision to keep her on the ballot.