Dolly Parton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, making her part of a select few artists that are in both the Rock and Country Hall of Fame.
Parton was inducted in the performer category. Here is a complete list of this year’s inductees:
Performers
- Pat Benatar and Neil Girardo
- Duran Duran
- Eminem
- Eurythmics
- Dolly Parton
- Lionel Richie
- Carly Simon
Musical Excellence
- Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
- Judas Priest
Early Influence
- Harry Belafonte
- Elizabeth Cotten
Non-Performers
- Allen Grubman
- Jimmy Iovine
- Sylvia Robinson
And who didn’t see this coming? (he asked rhetorically)
But in all good honesty, it is an honor worth having for Dolly, especially since it means she’s in there with her Trio pal and 2014 inductee Linda Ronstadt. And while one can make the convincing argument that the amount of rock and roll in Dolly’s career is substantially less than the country music in Linda’s, it’s better to revel in the fact that we now have someone who got in there by spending a lot of money to look that cheap (LOL).
Two of the three I wanted the most got in – yes to Dolly and Eurythmics, not yet to Kate Bush – so not a bad year for my preferences.
Willie Nelson should go in next, now that they’re finally acknowledging country music again.
Of course, one could argue that you’re going down a slippery slope by putting in folks from the country side of things. But so often country music is regarded by folks as a, for lack of a more PC term, bastard step-parent of rock and roll, even though some of its earliest exponents, notably Elvis and Johnny Cash, were White southerner who were as influenced by African-American gospel and R&B as they were by country.
I can see Willie getting in at some point, preferably while he’s still around of course. The other one worthy of RRHoF induction would be Emmylou Harris–and that, of course, would mean that all three Trio members would be in there.
…dolly parton’s voice is perhaps one of the greatest expressions of zest of life – the same goes for rock ‘n’ roll. sounds like a rather perfect match to me.