“I guess I’m a rock star now.”
This is what Dolly Parton said she told her manager upon learning that she was chosen to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The 76-year-old country icon, who was nominated for the first time, told Billboard she never meant to “cause trouble or stir up any controversy” when she announced in March that she was withdrawing her name from consideration.
At the time, the Rock Hall said ballots had already been sent to its voters. Last week, Parton said she would “gracefully” accept if she was selected.
“It was just always my belief — and I think millions of other people out there too — always thought the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was just set up for the greatest people in the rock ‘n’ roll business,” Parton explained, “and I just didn’t feel like I really measured up to that and I don’t want to take anything away from the people that have worked so hard.
“So I just wanted to go pull out before it got started good. I found out later that it’s far more than that, obviously. … I’m very honoured and humbled by [the induction], and so I’ll try to live up to it.”
Parton said she doesn’t know if she will attend the ceremony in November but if she does, she will perform “the hardest style rock ‘n’ roll song I could ever muster up just to show that I can do it … I’ll do something to make it fun and to be forgiven for my mistake. To earn my title.”
Parton also vowed to release a rock album – and said she hopes to get some help from bonafide rock star Mick Jagger.
“I’m hoping we’re both around long enough when I get to doing this record that he’ll come sing with me, and I may have to use The Rolling Stones to play behind me,” she said. “I might do something like that — try to get some different rock bands, some of the classic bands, to back me on some of the songs I do and then do two or three or four originals.