Dolly Parton declines nomination for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction

Country superstar and singer-songwriter Dolly Parton announced her decision to bow out of her recent nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Parton was nominated for the 2022 Induction Class back in February, joining other nominees including Beck, Duran Duran, DEVO, Judas Priest, Rage Against the Machine, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon and Eminem, among others.

On March 14, Parton posted on social media, announcing that she did not want to be included in the nomination so as to not “split votes.”

“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,” she wrote. “I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”

While the singer-songwriter declined to be nominated at this time, she went on to outline future plans to earn a new nomination.

“This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock ‘n’ roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!” she wrote. “My husband is a total rock ‘n’ roll freak and has always encouraged me to do one. I wish all of the nominees good luck and thank you again for the compliment. Rock on!”

While Parton is not traditionally known as a rock and roll artist, the eligibility to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame doesn’t require that. Instead, to be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of the nomination.

Nomination ballots were sent to an international body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation, and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has addressed the diversity in genres among the nominees, noting that their music was influential for other artists and the fans who listened.

“This year’s ballot recognizes a diverse group of incredible artists, each who has had a profound impact on the sound of youth culture,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “Their music not only moved generations but also influenced the sound of countless artists that followed.”

Here is the full list of the 2022 Induction Class, minus Parton:

• Beck
• Pat Benatar
• Kate Bush
• DEVO
• Duran Duran
• Eminem
• Eurythmics
• Judas Priest
• Fela Kuti
• MC5
• New York Dolls
• Rage Against The Machine
• Lionel Richie
• Carly Simon
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Dionne Warwick

Inductees will be announced May. The ceremony will take place this fall. The date and venue will be announced at a later date.

By Camryn Justice, News 5 Cleveland.