Cleveland is thrilled to welcome Dolly to the Rock Hall!
“Even though I am extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right,” Parton wrote on social media in March. “I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out. I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again – if I’m ever worthy.”
“That was the system in country music for women at that time,” says Brian Mansfield, managing editor for. “Loretta Lynn had the same sort of thing with the Wilburn Brothers. Kitty Wells was a package deal with Johnny & Jack. It was even common for women to be part of a larger touring package even if they’ve had significant hits of their own back then.”
Parton is considered the most successful female country performer of all time with 25 No. 1 singles and more than 100 million records sold worldwide. “I don’t think anybody would argue top five country artists of all time,” proclaims Mansfield. “And you could make a strong case for her as No. 1 or No. 2.”