Singer Elle King Reflects on Having a Bit Too Much Ahead of Dolly Parton Tribute Performance
Singer Elle King Reflects on Having a Bit Too Much Ahead of Dolly Parton Tribute Performance
January 19, 2024, was meant to be a celebration at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry. Fans gathered to pay tribute to Dolly Parton’s 78th birthday with performances by artists like Elle King, Ashley Monroe, and Terri Clark. But King’s appearance in the second show of the night became the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons. I take one shot too many and I’m just not there in my body. I’m not there. I don’t remember it, King later shared on the Dear Chelsea podcast with Chelsea Handler. I know now what I said. I said, ‘I’m Elle King, and I’m f---ing hammered.’ And I got the curtain dropped on me.
Videos captured by audience members spread like wildfire online. King, then 34, fumbled the lyrics to Parton’s 2001 song “Marry Me,” improvising with lines like, I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this f---ing town. Don’t tell Dolly ‘cause it’s her birthday. She bantered with the crowd, quipping, Everyone’s like, holy s---, we bought tickets for this s---? and I’m not even going to f---ing lie, y’all bought tickets for this s---? You ain’t getting your money back. The expletive-laden performance, at a venue known for its family-friendly atmosphere, prompted the Opry to issue a rare apology on social media: We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance.
A Dark Situation Behind the Scenes
King’s behavior wasn’t just a random misstep; it stemmed from deep personal struggles. I had been going through something very heavy and traumatic in my life at the time, she revealed on the Dear Chelsea podcast. That day was a really big day dealing with what I was going through, and that I’m still going through, and I suffer from severe PTSD. King, who hadn’t eaten or slept in days, described herself as a shell of myself. A last-minute scheduling change added pressure: the original headliner backed out three hours before the show due to a snowstorm, and King stepped in.
After a flawless performance of “Jolene” in the first show, King took one shot too many between sets. The result was a blackout performance where she was totally, 100% disassociated. She recalled, I just cut to the dressing room, me on the floor just sobbing, ‘What have I done?’ The next day, the incident was everywhere, amplifying her shame. I was mortified, she admitted, reflecting on the viral clips that sparked outrage among fans.
Facing the Backlash and Finding Forgiveness
The public response was brutal. Social media erupted with criticism, some calling King’s performance disrespectful to Parton and the Opry’s legacy. One attendee described it as horrible, drunken and profane, while others demanded she be banned. King faced personal attacks, with trolls labeling her an unfit mother to her two-year-old son, Lucky Levi, and even suggesting she harm herself. I never want to cry like that in a car ride home. I never want to wake up feeling like that ever again. I never want to feel that shame, she told Bunnie XO on the Dumb Blonde podcast.
Amid the storm, Dolly Parton emerged as a beacon of compassion. She called King a few days later, offering kind words that King described as proof that angels exist. She just gave me really kind words and told me, ‘Well, Dolly’s not mad at you, why should the world be?’ King recalled, noting how Parton’s humor lightened her burden. Parton publicly defended her, telling Extra, Elle is really a great artist. She’s a great girl, and she’s been going through a lot of hard things lately. She just had a little too much to drink, so let’s just forgive that and forget it and move on, ’cause she felt worse than anyone ever could.
King took accountability, hand-writing apology letters to both the Opry and Parton. I hand-wrote an apology letter to the Opry. I hand-wrote an apology letter to Dolly, she said. Her sincerity was evident, but the incident forced her to confront deeper issues.
A Journey of Healing and Change
The fallout pushed King to make significant changes. After everything that happened in January, I went to a different type of therapeutic program because I was very sad, she shared on the Off the Vine podcast with Kaitlyn Bristowe. Nobody really knows what I was going through behind closed doors. The program, which she clarified wasn’t traditional rehab, helped her address the high level of pain she was enduring. I couldn’t continue to be existing in that high level of pain, she said, emphasizing her desire to let go of the burden. I’m ready to shed, she added. I’m ready to let go of it. I don’t want to carry this s--- for the rest of my life.
King also made a pivotal decision: she stopped drinking before performances. Now, I don’t drink before I go up and sing, and they’re the best shows I’ve ever played. I’m proud to say that, she told Chelsea Handler. The change has transformed her performances, allowing her to connect more authentically with audiences. By September 2024, after performing over 35 concerts, King declared herself the best version of herself. I’m definitely able to put on a better show because of some changes that I’ve made in my life, and it gets me more excited, she said. I’ve got a small son. He’s going to find out about all this one day, and he’s going to see that I tried to be just the best version of myself.
Lessons Learned and a Path Forward
King’s story is one of accountability and growth. I’m not grateful for it, but at the same time, I can find a silver lining in literally anything, she reflected. I’m going to choose to use this as a tool to not defeat me, but to make me, hopefully, a better person. The incident, though painful, became a turning point. She rescheduled postponed shows and returned to the stage at the Extra Innings Festival in Arizona in March 2024, proving her resilience.
Parton’s forgiveness, coupled with King’s self-reflection, offers a powerful lesson in grace under pressure. I learned so much from this experience, King said. If I can come out of it, literally anyone can. Her journey resonates with anyone who’s faced a public mistake, showing that redemption is possible through honesty and hard work. As she moves forward, King carries the support of fans who saw her humanity and the wisdom of a country icon who reminded the world to forgive.