Grand Ole Opry Issues Apology Following Elle King’s Controversial Dolly Parton Tribute

In what was meant to be a celebratory event for Dolly Parton’s 78th birthday, Elle King’s performance at the “Opry Goes Dolly” event on Friday evening turned into a headline-making incident. Held at the historic Ryman Auditorium, the star-studded lineup featured artists like Terri Clark, Tigirlily, and Ashley Monroe, but it was Elle King’s behavior that took center stage, leaving the Grand Ole Opry to issue an apology.

Observing the audience’s shocked reaction

Taking the stage in an inebriated state, the 34-year-old singer introduced herself and candidly informed the audience that she was “f-ing hammered.” What followed was a profanity-laced dialogue before she attempted to cover Dolly’s 2001 hit, “Marry Me,” with altered lyrics such as “I don’t give a s***” and “I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this f-ing town … Don’t tell Dolly ‘cause it’s her birthday.”

King responded defiantly, stating, “You ain’t getting your money back.” A bandmate suggested she perform one of her own songs instead of the Dolly Parton cover, to which King replied, “I can barely play another person’s song, let me see if I can play one of mine.”

The aftermath of King’s performance garnered a strong response from fans online

Expressing shock and concern. Many labeled her performance as “disrespectful” and “a disgrace,” while others voiced hopes for her to seek help.

In response to a fan’s complaint on X (formerly Twitter), the Grand Ole Opry issued an official apology, stating, “We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance.”

Watch a clip from Elle King’s Grand Ole Opry performance in the video below. (Viewer discretion advised due to profanity.)

@auctioneergirl I think Elle King just ended here career. I cant imagine disrespecting Dolly at the @Grand Ole Opry on Dollys birthday 🤦🏼‍♀️ I hope Elle gets the help she needs cause this does not pass the vibe check. **This is not my video** • • • #thegrandoleopry #drunk #elleking #ellekingmusic #Tennessee #fyp #foryoupage #foryoupageofficiall #fypシ #fypシ゚viral ♬ original sound – Victoria