A Regrettable Display: Elle King’s Inebriated Opry Performance Mars Dolly Parton Tribute
Nashville’s storied Grand Ole Opry issued an official apology this weekend after singer-songwriter Elle King delivered a drunken, profanity-laced performance during Friday evening’s tribute to country icon Dolly Parton’s 79th birthday.
Describing herself as “f*****g hammered” onstage, King slurred her words, bantered abrasively with audience members, and failed to properly perform the Parton number she had been slated to sing as part of the tribute lineup.
“We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance,” the Opry shared via its social media channels on Saturday morning.
While outrage lit up online country music forums and the comment sections of the Opry’s posts, the apology came in specific response to a dismayed audience member who spent $300 on tickets only to have King “ruin the entire night” with her “horrible, drunk and profane performance.” The fan noted Ms. Parton herself would have likely been “mortified” to witness King’s embarrassing stage behavior.
Indeed, as country music taste-making site Saving Country Music observed, King’s actions felt less like the intentional envelope-pushing of outlaws before her and more “sad, and perhaps a cry for help.” Added the site’s editor-in-chief Trigger, “if [King] wants to stay in country, cheesing off the Opry and disrespecting Dolly is probably not the best way to go.”
The unravelling onstage marks a swift change of fortune for King, who has enjoyed prime positioning as a newly embraced member of the country music community over the past year. Just weeks ago she co-hosted Fox’s 5-hour New Year’s Eve bash from Nashville alongside Jimmie Allen, and last summer she helmed ABC’s “CMA Fest” television special alongside superstar co-host Luke Bryan.
Propelling her crossover status was the chart-topping Miranda Lambert duet “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” in 2021. Yet while a follow-up collaboration with Dierks Bentley made less of an impact at country radio, King has largely been welcomed with open arms by the format. Amid a few “carpetbagger” jabs from genre gatekeepers, she has spoken about fully transitioning into the country lane.
Of course, the road to recovery and redemption lies wide open for King; the annals of country music history are filled with second, third, and fourth chances after regrettable behavior. And amidst much online anger, some fan reactions trended towards compassion over condemnation. “I’m sure Dolly’s first thought would be to try to help this woman,” noted one comment. “Nobody gets to that point without things being seriously wrong.”
Another shared memories of King’s behavior at a recent festival performance: “I get it, you are having fun,” the fan wrote. “I guess it was just a little over the top…That building/institution has hosted enormous talent but it isn’t a totally clean history.”
Parton herself did not appear during the two Opry birthday tribute performances on January 20th. Other guest artists on the bill included Terri Clark, Dailey & Vincent, Ashley Monroe and teenage sister duo Tigirlily, all of whom managed to avoid King’s level of spectacle during the venerable show.
With a busy slate of tour dates on the books and a slot at April’s Stagecoach festival ahead, one hopes King quickly rights the ship. As country royalty Martina McBride once wisely sang, “This One’s For The Girls” – and we’re rooting for Elle to recover from her “Achy Breaky Heart.”
