Earlier this week, we reported that country music legend Dolly Parton had shocked the world by removing herself from consideration for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after she was nominated for it. Now, Judas Priest’s Richie Faulkner is praising her for making this “classy” move.
Parton spoke out on Monday to ask that her name be withdrawn from the 2022 ballot for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“I don’t feel that I have earned the right,” the 76-year-old icon said. “I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out.”
“I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again – if I’m ever worthy,” Parton added, according to Yahoo News. “This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock’n’roll album at some point in the future, which I have always wanted to do!”
Related: Dolly Parton Turns Down Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
Faulkner, who joined Judas Priest back in 2011, thought that this was the right move for Parton.
“I think it was a classy move, really,” he said, according to Blabbermouth. “I think she recognizes her brand, and it didn’t necessarily fit into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. And I think it raises questions to what the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s brand is as well.”
Related: Why Dolly Parton Doesn’t Deserve To Be In The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame
Others praised Parton for the move as well.
“Dolly is the absolute best!!! Hey [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame], Please learn something from her classy gesture…” said professional wrestler Chris Jericho, with journalist Ben Ryan adding, “Oh, Dolly Parton, why are you so divine? Let me count the ways…”
Others got in on the action as well:
As for Faulkner, he took issue with the fact that Judas Priest has yet to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“To call it the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and not have bands like Judas Priest in it from day one, I think, is a weird thing,” Faulkner said. “I’ve said this before. It’s shocking, really. I don’t know how you can call it the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame without having bands like that in it as default; they sort of spawned the genre.”
However, in the end, Faulkner does not think the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is what it’s all about.
“I’ve said this before, but I think the greatest accolade any band can have… You’ve toured the world for 50 years, you’ve put out music for 50 years, you’ve got a loyal fanbase for 50 years,” he stated. “No one’s more grateful that these guys in this band, and I know that. They’re still putting out music, they’re still making music, they’re still touring the world.”
“I think that’s worth much more than getting in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Faulkner concluded.
We would have to agree with Faulkner, both on how “classy” Parton is, and on his assessment of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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