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More than a month after requesting that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to take her out of consideration for 2022 induction, Dolly Parton has conceded that she will "accept gracefully" if she is voted in.
In March, Parton expressed her misgivings about entering the Rock Hall as an artist with little rock credibility or influences. Though she once suggested that induction would prompt her to make a rock and roll album, she later reconsidered, asking that she be removed from consideration so as not to take a spot from a deserving rocker.
Speaking to NPR's Morning Edition on Friday, Parton said she'll accept induction into the Rock Hall because of the part fans play in the voting, but she still worries that she doesn't deserve to be there.
"When I said that [about declining induction], it was always my belief that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was for the people in rock music," Parton said. "I have found out lately that it's not necessarily that, but if they can't go there to be recognized, where do they go? So I just felt like that I would be taking away from someone that maybe deserved it, certainly more than me, because I never considered myself a rock artist. But obviously there's more to it than that."
The Hall of Fame respectfully declined to take Parton's name off their ballot, noting rock 'n' roll's "deep roots in rhythm & blues and country music." The Rock Hall argues that rock is not so much a musical genre as a "sound that moves youth culture" in a given era.
"Dolly Parton's music impacted a generation of young fans and influenced countless artists that followed her," the Rock Hall said. "Her nomination to be considered for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame followed the same process as all other artists who have been considered."
The Rock Hall's fan voting ends today (April 29) and the 2022 inductees are set to be announced next month.
As of the 29th, Parton was the fifth highest fan-voted act on the ballot, trailing Duran Duran, Eminem, Pat Benatar and Eurythmics. As Parton openly worries about taking a spot from a more deserving artist, she sits about 30,000 votes ahead of three-time nominee Judas Priest.
It's worth noting that winning the Rock Hall's fan vote does not guarantee induction.
Each year, the Rock Hall's inductees are voted on by the Hall of Fame's members, as well as a group of music journalists, historians and industry professionals. The totality of the fan vote serves as one ballot among 1,200 or so others, and a meager suggestion to the general voting body.
In 2020, only one of the top five fan-voted acts, Doobie Brothers, earned induction.