Singer-songwriter Elle King is facing criticism for her performance at a Dolly Parton tribute concert on Friday night. King, who appeared to be intoxicated, forgot the lyrics and used profanity while singing Partonâs song âMarry Meâ. Fans and fellow artists expressed their disappointment and anger at Kingâs disrespectful behavior, while some also raised the issue of gender double standards in the music industry.
Elle Kingâs Controversial Performance at Dolly Parton Tribute
The tribute concert, which took place at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, was meant to celebrate the country legendâs 78th birthday. The event featured other performers, such as Ashley Monroe, Tigirlily Gold, Dailey & Vincent and Terri Clark, who paid homage to Partonâs songs and legacy.
King, however, did not seem to share the same reverence for Parton. In multiple videos of the event posted on social media, King can be seen slurring her words, using coarse language, and telling the audience that she was âhammeredâ. She then proceeded to sing Partonâs 2001 hit âMarry Meâ, but changed the words and admitted that she did not know the lyrics. âI donât give a sâ. I donât know the lyrics to these things in this fâing town,â she sang at one point.
Fans criticize drunken and disrespectful behavior
Kingâs performance did not sit well with many fans and attendees, who took to social media to express their outrage and disgust. Some called her performance âhorribleâ, âembarrassingâ, and âinsultingâ to Parton and her fans. Others demanded an apology from King and a refund from the Opry.
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Elle King ruined the night with her horrible, drunk, and profane performance. Dolly Parton wouldâve been mortified. For our first time at The Opry, it was a shame we all had to witness that”.
Another user commented on a video of Kingâs performance: “This is so disrespectful to Dolly and her fans. She should be ashamed of herself. She clearly doesnât care about the Opry or the history of country music”.
Opry apologizes for show
The Opry also issued an apology on X for the language that was used during Kingâs performance. âWe deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last nightâs second Opry performance,â read a post from the Opryâs account.
However, some fans were not satisfied with the apology and asked for more action from the Opry. One user replied: “Thatâs not enough. You need to ban her from ever performing there again. She disrespected Dolly, the Opry, and the fans. She doesnât deserve to be on that stage”.
Response from Elle King
King has not publicly addressed the backlash or apologized for her performance as of yet. A representative for King did not immediately return a request for comment.
However, some fans have defended King and suggested that she may have been struggling with personal issues or substance abuse. One user wrote on X: “I feel sorry for Elle King. She obviously has some problems and needs help. I hope she gets the support she needs and learns from this mistake”.
Another user commented on a video of Kingâs performance: “I love Elle King and her music. She is a talented and beautiful artist. I donât know what happened to her that night, but I hope she is okay. Maybe she was having a bad day or going through something. I donât think she meant to disrespect Dolly or anyone”.
Discussion on Gender Double Standards in Music Industry
Some fans and fellow artists have also pointed out the gender double standards that exist in the music industry, especially in the country genre. They argued that male artists have been praised or excused for their drunken and rowdy behavior on stage, while female artists are held to a higher standard and criticized more harshly.
Partonâs sister, Stella Parton, who is also a singer-songwriter, took to X on Monday to comment on Kingâs performance. She wrote: âI didnât see nor hear the Grand Ole Opry birthday tribute to my big sister Dolly over the weekend. But some lil girl by the name of Elle King apparently cussed and insulted some of Dollyâs fans by not knowing a song. She did admit to being âhammeredâ her word not mineâ.
She continued: âBut let me just say this, it wouldnât be the first time a Hillbilly went on the stage of the Opry âhammeredâ but I guess itâs ok if youâre a male but good lord donât ever let a girl behave that way folks! Double fâing standard if ya ask meâ.
She also warned King and other artists not to âhalf-assâ a cover of her sisterâs music: âYouâll end up looking as silly as that lil girlâ.
Some fans agreed with Stella Parton and called out the sexism in the industry. One user wrote on X: âStella Parton is right. There is a double standard for women in country music. Men can do whatever they want and get away with it, but women are expected to be perfect and respectful. Itâs not fairâ.
Another user commented on a video of Kingâs performance: “I donât condone Elle Kingâs behavior, but I also donât like the hypocrisy. How many male artists have been drunk and rude on stage and nobody said anything? How many male artists have messed up Dollyâs songs and nobody cared? Why is it different for women?”.
Conclusion
Elle Kingâs performance at a Dolly Parton tribute concert has sparked a lot of controversy and backlash. Fans and fellow artists have accused her of being disrespectful and unprofessional, while some have also raised the issue of gender double standards in the music industry. King has not responded to the criticism or apologized for her performance. The Opry has apologized for the language that was used during the show. Parton, who was not present at the concert, has not commented on the incident.
