Dolly Parton and Eminem inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

The two artists, whose work couldn't be more disparate, are among the most eclectic group of musicians honoured by the organisation in years

Dolly Parton speaks on stage accompanied by Pink at the 37th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles, California. Reuters

Sheryl Crow and Zac Brown perform a Dolly Parton song. Reuters

Parton had earlier tried to decline the prestigious honour because she didn't feel rock enough. Reuters

Dolly Parton on stage accompanied by Eurythmics, Neil Giraldo, Pat Benatar, Brandi Carlile, Simon Le Bon, Rob Halford, Zac Brown, Sheryl Crow, Pink and Annie Lennox at the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles, California, U. S. , November 6, 2022. REUTERS / Mario Anzuoni

Bruce Springsteen performs at the ceremony. Reuters

Dolly Parton performs accompanied by Brandi Carlile and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran. Reuters

Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp perform in tribute of Jerry Lee Lewis. Reuters

Dolly Parton performs on stage accompanied by Rob Halford of Judas Priest. Reuters

Singer-songwriter Pat Benatar performs. AFP

Eminem gestures while on stage. Reuters

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran performs with Eminem. AFP

Steven Tyler performs at the ceremony. Reuters

Rapper Dr Dre gives Eminem his award. AFP

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics perform. AP

Eminem performs with Mr Porter. AP

Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran performs. Reuters

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics hold their award on stage. AFP

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics perform on stage. AFP

Inductee US singer-songwriter Lionel Richie speaks on stage during the 37th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Microsoft Theatre on November 5, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP)

Lionel Richie performs with Dave Grohl. Reuters

The Edge of U2 speaks on stage. Reuters

Lenny Kravitz dabs Lionel Richie with a cloth after his performance. AP

Lionel Richie performs on stage. Reuters

John Mellencamp introduces Allen Grubman. AP

Olivia Rodrigo performs inductee Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain'. AP

Olivia Rodrigo on stage. AP

US singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles speaks. AFP

Musical Excellence Award recipients Judas Priest receive their trophy. Reuters

Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Ian Hill of Judas Priest. AP

K K Downing and Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest. AFP

Janet Jackson speaks. AFP

Musical Excellence Award recipients Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis recieve their trophy from US singer-songwriter Janet Jackson. AFP

Robert Downey Jr introduces Duran Duran on stage. Reuters

Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran performs. Reuters

Dolly Parton led a supergroup in a rousing rendition of Jolene as Eminem brought the entire room to its feet at Saturday's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame gala, which inducted its most eclectic group of artists in years in an ode to rock's spirit.

The country music queen and the rap agitator were joined by pop futurists Eurythmics, smooth rocker Lionel Richie, confessional lyricist Carly Simon and enduring rock duo Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo in entering the music pantheon.

"I'm a rock star now!" yelped Parton as she took the stage, fists in the air.

The singer, 76, had tried to decline the prestigious honour because she didn't feel rock enough — "I didn't understand at the time that it's about a little more than that," she said.

Artists including Pink and Brandi Carlile gathered to perform Dolly classics including 9 to 5, before Parton returned to the stage in a stunning body-con outfit dripping in chains.

She then performed her new rock song, which included a mean solo that she played on a crystal-encrusted electric guitar.

"I've still got rock and roll down in my country soul / and I'll be rockin' it til the cows come home," she belted out.

Eminem delivered a blend of hits old and new, after one of music's master provocateurs walked out to the quintessential My Name Is.

His loyal mentor Dr Dre inducted the artist behind The Marshall Mathers LP — one of the bestselling albums of all time — who gained the hall's coveted recognition in his first year of eligibility.

The superstar has built a massive career off his blistering flow and lyrical talent, but at times has fuelled it with eyebrow-raising controversy.

Eminem invited none other than Steven Tyler to perform Sing for the Moment, which samples his band Aerosmith's track Dream On, and Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance to sing Dido's Thank You sample in Stan.

The rapper, 50, then donned his glasses to read his acceptance speech, touching on the obstacles he has overcome, including a troubled childhood and addiction.

But he spent most of his time at the podium thanking dozens of fellow rappers.

"They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well it took a whole genre and culture to raise me," he said. "I'm a high-school dropout, man, with a hip-hop education, and these are my teachers.

"And it's their night just as much as it is mine."

For the 2022 class, the hallowed institution continued to bring rappers, pop, RnB and country music stars into its fold.

"Rock and roll is not a colour, it is a feeling, it is a vibe," said Richie to a chorus of cheers.

"If we let that vibe come through, this room will grow and grow."

Richie's show-stopping performance included a sing-off with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, who offered guitar riffs to accompany the classic Easy (Like Sunday Morning).

Synth-pop pioneers Eurythmics — the duo made up of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart — also took their place among rock's greatest, but not before delivering a performance that included their classic Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).

And Duran Duran met the moment with a best-of medley including Girls on Film and Hungry Like the Wolf.

But the British group also held a sombre moment for former member Andy Taylor. Frontman Simon Le Bon read a letter written by the guitarist that revealed he had been struggling with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer for years.

But Taylor said he was "sure as hell glad I'm around to see the day" that the hitmakers made it into the rock hall.

Carly Simon, known for her deeply personal songwriting, was inducted by Sara Bareilles but unable to attend, as two of her sisters recently both died of cancer.

"One of the greatest things about music," Simon said in a message read by Bareilles, "is its uncanny knack for making physical art out of formless emotions like joy and pain."

Pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo then took to the stage to perform Simon's seminal 1970s hit You're So Vain, as the audience, including Carlile and LL Cool J, bobbed their heads and sang along.

Inducted by Sheryl Crow, Benatar and Giraldo delivered a heart-thumping rendition of their top songs including Love is a Battlefield and Heartbreaker.

And none other than Bruce Springsteen, who attended on Saturday to give a special induction to master producer Jimmy Iovine, took to the stage to perform alongside John Mellencamp in honour of the late Jerry Lee Lewis.

The Boss slayed a fiery guitar solo as the band delivered a rollicking version of the original hall of famer's Great Balls of Fire.