Dolly Parton performs in concert on July 31, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Invision / AP, File
Dolly Parton performs in concert on July 31, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Invision / AP, File
Dolly Parton performs in concert on July 31, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Invision / AP, File
Dolly Parton performs in concert on July 31, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Invision / AP, File

Dolly Parton, Eminem and Lionel Richie inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame


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Country music star Dolly Parton was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Wednesday, even though she did not want the honour, calling herself unworthy of it.

Parton was among an eclectic group of new inductees that include rapper Eminem, crooner Harry Belafonte, rocker Pat Benatar, British band Duran Duran and pop singer, songwriter and producer Lionel Richie, among others.

Parton, 76, who is known for hits including Islands in the Stream and Jolene, asked last month that her name be withdrawn from consideration.

Scroll through the gallery below to see Dolly Parton's style evolution:

  • Dolly Parton, with a side-swept beehive, poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, with a side-swept beehive, poses for a portrait in 1965 in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in a floral dress, with Porter Wagoner on the set of his TV show in 1969. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a floral dress, with Porter Wagoner on the set of his TV show in 1969. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in a jumpsuit and crochet cape, at London Airport on April 16, 1976. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a jumpsuit and crochet cape, at London Airport on April 16, 1976. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in a denim shirt and headscarf, pictured in London, England, on May 20, 1977. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a denim shirt and headscarf, pictured in London, England, on May 20, 1977. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in a high-necked lace creation, in 1978. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a high-necked lace creation, in 1978. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in burgundy velvet, at recording session in 1978. Reuters
    Dolly Parton, in burgundy velvet, at recording session in 1978. Reuters
  • Ben Vereen and Dolly Parton, in a strapless gown, attend the 52nd annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on April 14, 1980. Reuters
    Ben Vereen and Dolly Parton, in a strapless gown, attend the 52nd annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on April 14, 1980. Reuters
  • Dolly Parton, in a pink-fringed blouse, pictured in 1987. Reuters
    Dolly Parton, in a pink-fringed blouse, pictured in 1987. Reuters
  • Dolly Parton, in a black and white blouse and voluminous curls, at a press conference in 1987. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a black and white blouse and voluminous curls, at a press conference in 1987. Getty Images
  • Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, in a black dress with matching bolero, in 1987. Getty Images
    Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, in a black dress with matching bolero, in 1987. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in an encrusted white gown, at the 14th People's Choice Awards on March 13, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. Reuters
    Dolly Parton, in an encrusted white gown, at the 14th People's Choice Awards on March 13, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. Reuters
  • Dolly Parton, in an embellished layered dress, attends the 'Steel Magnolias' premiere on November 9, 1989, in Los Angeles, US. Reuters
    Dolly Parton, in an embellished layered dress, attends the 'Steel Magnolias' premiere on November 9, 1989, in Los Angeles, US. Reuters
  • Dolly Parton, in a leather skirt and waistcoat, waves during a luncheon in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2000. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a leather skirt and waistcoat, waves during a luncheon in Washington, DC, on March 22, 2000. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in an embroidered yellow jacket, attends the National Press Club luncheon in Washington DC, on March 23, 2000. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in an embroidered yellow jacket, attends the National Press Club luncheon in Washington DC, on March 23, 2000. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in a leather waistcoat, poses during the launch of her new album, 'Little Arrow', in a London record store on February 16, 2001. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a leather waistcoat, poses during the launch of her new album, 'Little Arrow', in a London record store on February 16, 2001. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in a blue capri-pant suit, poses on October 8, 2002 at the Oxford Street HMV store in London, England. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a blue capri-pant suit, poses on October 8, 2002 at the Oxford Street HMV store in London, England. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in an American flag-inspired suit, poses on the South Grounds of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2003. Reuters
    Dolly Parton, in an American flag-inspired suit, poses on the South Grounds of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 4, 2003. Reuters
  • Dolly Parton, in a white suit, performs during the 78th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 5, 2006. EPA
    Dolly Parton, in a white suit, performs during the 78th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 5, 2006. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in a white glittering gown, arrives at the Kennedy Centre Honours gala in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2006. EPA
    Dolly Parton, in a white glittering gown, arrives at the Kennedy Centre Honours gala in Washington, DC, on December 3, 2006. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in a beaded green ensemble, at the Magna Science and Adventure Park on December 5, 2007 in South Yorkshire, England. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a beaded green ensemble, at the Magna Science and Adventure Park on December 5, 2007 in South Yorkshire, England. Getty Images
  • Dolly Parton, in a beaded pink mini with chiffon robe, arrives at the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York, US, on June 7, 2009. EPA
    Dolly Parton, in a beaded pink mini with chiffon robe, arrives at the Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York, US, on June 7, 2009. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in a black corseted dress, poses during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, on February 11, 2014. EPA
    Dolly Parton, in a black corseted dress, poses during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, on February 11, 2014. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in statement orange, performs during a concert to benefit her Imagination Library at The University of Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena on May 28, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. AFP
    Dolly Parton, in statement orange, performs during a concert to benefit her Imagination Library at The University of Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena on May 28, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. AFP
  • Alyvia Lind and Dolly Parton, in a floral shirt and capri pants, arrive for the NBC Universal summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California, on August 13, 2015. EPA
    Alyvia Lind and Dolly Parton, in a floral shirt and capri pants, arrive for the NBC Universal summer press tour at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California, on August 13, 2015. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in a multi-coloured sequin blazer, attends the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2016. EPA
    Dolly Parton, in a multi-coloured sequin blazer, attends the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2016. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in a patterned mini dress, arrives at the premiere of 'Dumplin' at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood, California, on December 6, 2018.
    Dolly Parton, in a patterned mini dress, arrives at the premiere of 'Dumplin' at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood, California, on December 6, 2018.
  • Dolly Parton, in a bedazzled body-con dress, arrives for the MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2019. EPA
    Dolly Parton, in a bedazzled body-con dress, arrives for the MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2019. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in a sparkly red dress, arrives at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2019. EPA
    Dolly Parton, in a sparkly red dress, arrives at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2019. EPA
  • Dolly Parton, in a fringe-trimmed dress, attends the gala evening of '9 to 5: The Musical' at The Savoy Theatre on February 17, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
    Dolly Parton, in a fringe-trimmed dress, attends the gala evening of '9 to 5: The Musical' at The Savoy Theatre on February 17, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images

"Even though I'm extremely flattered and grateful to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don't feel that I have earned that right," she said.

When the hall of fame rejected her rejection, in part because voting was already under way, Parton eventually relented.

The hall of fame said she was much more than a country star.

"With her trailblazing songwriting career, distinctive voice, campy glamour, business savvy and humanitarian work, Dolly Parton is a beloved icon who transcends the genre she transformed forever," the organisation said on its website as it announced the new members.

Country stars are not foreign to the Hall of Fame in Cleveland — Johnny Cash, Jimmie Rodgers and Chet Atkins are all among its ranks.

Other new inductees announced Wednesday include Carly Simon, the Eurythmics and Judas Priest.

In an interview last with National Public Radio, Parton said that after first saying no, she would "accept gracefully" if she were inducted to the hall of fame.

She said that it was always her belief that the organisation was for people in rock and roll.

"So I just felt like I would be taking away from someone that maybe deserved it, certainly more than me, because I never considered myself a rock artist," Parton said. "But obviously, there's more to it than that."

Acts can be inducted 25 years after their first commercial music release.

They are voted on by a body of more than 1,000 artists, music historians and industry veterans.

The new honourees will be formally inducted in a ceremony in Los Angeles on November 5.

Updated: May 05, 2022, 5:00 AM