Dolly Parton Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
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Dolly Parton is a nominee for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The beloved country star joins 17 other musical acts as potential members of the 2022 class. Voters will decide who will make it into the Rock Hall between now and May. Joining Dolly as nominees are acts as varied Eminem and Dionne Warwick to Rage Against The Machine and DEVO.

You can see the complete list here.

If you’re confused by Dolly’s inclusion, you’re not alone. Dolly is an icon and a trailblazer, but she doesn’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame for “Rock & Roll.” Here’s why.

Related: Dolly Parton Reveals Surprising Reason She Doesn’t Want To Live As Long As Betty White.

Remember When The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was for Rock & Roll?

Y’all know I love Dolly, but is she a “Rock & Roll” singer? Not to me. I don’t understand why they have to fill the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with rappers and country singers? I mean, I do know the reason.

The reason is that they want the Rock Hall to stay relevant, and there are not that many good rockers out there anymore. Because of that lack of star power, they have to find other musicians to fill the classes. This is why you get Dolly, Eminem, and other non-rock stars. 

Based on the above nominees, I think Beck, RATM, Devo, Kate Bush, and MC5 are the most deserving. Each of those acts inspired changes in music and were trailblazers with unique, time-tested sounds. And also, most importantly, they exclusively played rock-n-roll music. 

Beck, DEVO, and Kate Bush pretty much invented modern indie rock, Rage mainstreamed rap-metal and political rock, and MC5 was instrumental in forming garage and punk. The New York Dolls invented glam rock and deserved the nod as well. 

It is a sign that I am getting old that the bands I grew up listening to are now up for the Hall of Fame. 

Among a lot of notable absences that SHOULD be in the Hall include Deep Purple, Joy Division/New Order, and if we’re going to recognize a lot of modern punk bands, we need to acknowledge predecessors like Television, Minor Threat, Fugazi, Black Flag, and the Dead Kennedys.

Shut Up, Old Man

Now you can argue, and it seems to be the mainstream consensus, that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has evolved from rock music to encompass all forms of popular mainstream music.

There are some who do want Dolly Parton in the Rock Hall.

And, there are some which don’t think she should be inducted.

Which, sure, I guess I can understand that line of reasoning. I’m not going to make a big stink of it. I don’t need a Hall of Fame to tell me what music is essential and good. 

Do you think Dolly Parton deserves to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Let us know in the comments below.

Next, Read This: Dolly Parton & James Patterson Wrote A Book Here’s Everything You Need To Know

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