Dolly Parton sang a triumphant version of “Jolene” during her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Queen of Country performed her hit with a stacked lineup of stars, namely Pink, Sheryl Crow, Rob Halford, Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Brandi Carlile, and Simon Le Bon. The performance had a great vibe and gave off the energy of a victory lap for the country legend. Following Dolly’s death at the age of 80 in August 2026, the performance has taken on an added poignancy. What once felt like a celebration of everything she had achieved now also serves as a joyful reminder of the talent, personality, and warmth that made her such a beloved figure in music.
Parton sang the opening hook, then sang in a duet with Pink, and then the pop star took the first verse. The look on Pink’s face said it all, and she was clearly stoked to be up there with the one and only Dolly Parton. Eurythmics’ Annie Lennox took the next verse, then the star-packed vocal line sang the chorus together. The big names kept on coming thick and fast, and soon it was Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon’s turn to take a verse, followed by Pat Benatar and the metal god Rob Halford.
The performance was a big hit with the crowd, and more than 1.1 million viewers have tuned in to watch the “Jolene” live cut on YouTube. Fans on YouTube added comments such as “Dolly has music coursing through her soul. She can sing and harmonize perfectly with anyone she sings with. Pure talent,” and “I love Dolly Parton’s inspiring, life-fulfilling spirit. She has a truly warm heart and an innovative spirit. God bless her!” In the wake of her passing, sentiments like these feel even more touching, reflecting the affection that fans around the world held for an artist whose music and generosity reached far beyond the country genre.
Pink inducted Dolly Parton into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the 37th annual ceremony on November 5, 2022, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. The other inductees that night were Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Duran Duran, Eminem, Eurythmics, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, and Judas Priest. Backed by the Zac Brown Band, Parton sang two songs at the ceremony, with the other track being the fittingly titled “Rockin’ It”.
After hearing that she was to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Parton initially planned to withdraw after deeming herself unworthy of the honour. After some deliberation, the country star changed her mind and went ahead with the induction. During her acceptance speech, Parton declared, “I’m a rock star now!” She then gave some background on her hesitance to accept the honour, saying, “I’m sure a lot of you knew that back when they said they were gonna put me in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I didn’t feel like I had done enough to deserve that. And I didn’t understand at the time that it’s about more than that. But I’m just so honoured and so proud to be here tonight.”
Looking back following Dolly’s passing, the night feels like an especially fitting celebration of her extraordinary career. Surrounded by artists from across the musical spectrum, she stood at the centre of the stage singing one of the songs that helped define her legacy. Dolly Parton leaves behind more than six decades of music, unforgettable performances, and a spirit of generosity that touched millions… and this joyous rendition of “Jolene” captures a little of the magic that made her irreplaceable.