Singer-songwriter Elle King is at the center of controversy following her performance at the Grand Ole Opry during a Dolly Parton tribute concert celebrating the country legend’s 78th birthday. Fans in attendance and online have expressed their disappointment and frustration with King’s performance of “Marry Me.”
During her set, King candidly admitted on stage that she did not know the lyrics to the iconic Dolly Parton song. She was caught on video saying, “I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this (expletive) town. Don’t tell Dolly ’cause it’s her birthday.” She went on to address the audience, stating, “I’m not even gonna (expletive) lie … y’all bought tickets for this (expletive), you ain’t getting your money back.”
In response to a fan’s remark, King retorted, “Good, ’cause you ain’t getting it,” and added, “I’ll tell you one thing more … hi, my name is Elle King. I’m (expletive) hammered.” This raised concerns as TikTok user @jamiek721 reported that King used explicit language repeatedly during her performance at the Ryman Auditorium, where children were also present.
At another point in her set, when someone suggested she perform one of her own songs, King responded with uncertainty, saying, “I can barely play another person’s song, let me see if I can play one of mine.”
Dolly Parton’s 78th birthday celebration at the Grand Ole Opry featured several artists, including Terri Clark, Tigirlily Gold, Ashley Monroe, Dailey and Vincent, and more. Lauren Alaina was initially slated to perform but canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. A complaint about Elle King’s performance was posted on X, expressing disappointment and embarrassment for those in attendance.
The Grand Ole Opry responded to the criticism, apologizing for the language used during King’s performance. As of now, Elle King has not publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her performance. The incident has sparked discussions about the responsibility of artists when performing at tribute concerts dedicated to legends like Dolly Parton.
