Dolly Parton Stuns with “Jolene” Featuring Pink, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, Rob Halford, & Annie Lennox
Dolly Parton delivered a triumphant rendition of “Jolene” during her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Queen of Country was joined by an impressive lineup of stars, including Pink, Sheryl Crow, Rob Halford, Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Brandi Carlile, and Simon Le Bon. This star-studded performance radiated the energy of a victory lap for the legendary country icon.
Parton kicked off the song with the opening hook before sharing the stage with Pink for a duet. Pink then took over the first verse, and her expression revealed just how thrilled she was to be performing alongside the iconic Dolly Parton. The next verse was taken by Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox, followed by a collective chorus sung by the entire ensemble of stars.
As the performance continued, the big names kept appearing, with Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon stepping up for a verse, followed by Pat Benatar and metal legend Rob Halford.
The performance resonated strongly with the audience, and 1.1 million viewers tuned in to watch the live cut of “Jolene” on YouTube. Fans expressed their admiration in the comments, with one stating, “Dolly has music coursing through her soul. She can sing and harmonize perfectly with anyone she sings with. Pure talent,” while another added, “I love Dolly Parton’s inspiring, life-fulfilling spirit. She has a truly warm heart and an innovative spirit. God bless her!”
Pink had the honor of inducting Dolly Parton into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the 37th annual ceremony, held on November 5, 2022, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. Other inductees that evening included Pat Benatar, Neil Giraldo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, and Judas Priest. Accompanied by the Zac Brown Band, Parton performed two songs at the ceremony, the other being the aptly titled “Rockin’ It.”
Initially, after learning of her upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Dolly Parton intended to withdraw, feeling that she didn’t deserve the honor. However, after some consideration, she decided to proceed with the induction. During her acceptance speech, Parton proudly proclaimed, “I’m a rock star now!” She also explained her initial hesitation, saying, “I’m sure a lot of you knew that back when they said they were gonna put me in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I didn’t feel like I had done enough to deserve that. And I didn’t understand at the time that it’s about more than that. But I’m just so honored and so proud to be here tonight.”
