'Hammered' Singer Outrages Fans at Dolly Parton Tribute

Grand Ole Opry apologizes after Elle King told the audience she was 'hammered,' forgot lyrics
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 22, 2024 4:20 PM CST
Opry Apologizes After Singer 'Ruined' Dolly Parton Tribute
Elle King performs at the iHeartCountry Music Festival in May 13 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.   (Photo by Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP)

They didn't get their money back, as a "hammered" Elle King had warned them, but fans at a Dolly Parton tribute did receive an apology from the Grand Ole Opry after a profane, substandard performance Friday night. King cursed during her act, told the audience she was impaired, and forgot the words to the Parton song she was supposed to sing to mark the star's birthday, NBC News reports. "Dolly Parton would've been mortified," one fan at the show posted on X, adding that King "ruined the night."

The next day, the Opry posted on X, "We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night's second Opry performance." King seemed to be singing in gibberish and making up words to Parton's hit, "Marry Me," per People. To audience shouts, King responded, "You ain't getting your money back." Parton was not at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for the shows in honor of her 78th birthday. But one fan imagined what might have happened if the star had been there. "I'm sure Dolly's first thought would be to try to help this woman," a post reads on Saving Country Music. (More Grand Ole Opry stories.)

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