Dolly Partondoesn’t hold animosity towardElle King.After King told patronsshe was “f—ing hammered"and admitted to forgetting lyrics to Parton’s “Marry Me” during a Grand Ole Opry performance celebrating the country icon’s 78th birthday at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last month, the “Jolene” singer is coming to her defense.“Elle is really a great artist,” said Parton of the “Ex’s and Oh’s” musician, 34, inan interview withExtra. “She’s a great girl, and she’s been going through of hard things lately.“Dolly Parton; Elle King.Jason Kempin/Getty Images for American Greetings; Hubert Vestil/GettyThe Grammy-winning superstar continued, “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.“During the concert on Jan. 19 — which also featured performances fromAshley Monroe,Tigirlily Gold, Dailey & Vincent and Terri Clark — King, 34, could be seen going back-and-forth with audience members about refunds inseveral videosshared toTikTok.The exchange followed King seemingly singing in gibberish — and improvisational lines about her not knowing the lyrics to “Marry Me” — while she was admittedly impaired.Elle King.Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty"I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this f—ing town,” King sang. “Don’t tell Dolly ‘cause it’s her birthday.“She later added after the song: “Everyone’s like, holy s—, we bought tickets to this s—. I’m not even going to lie,” she said while putting her hands in her pockets. “Holy s—. I’m not even going to f—ing lie. Y’all bought tickets for this s—?“After telling fans that they “ain’t gettin’ your money back,” a crowd member then responded with “I don’t want it.“Elle King in Las Vegas in May 2022.Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty"Good, ‘cause you ain’t getting it,” King quipped.According to a TikTok user who attended the show, King swore on stage “about 15 times” before the exchange with the crowd and “forgot the words to the Dolly song she was supposed to sing.” The venue then “shut the curtain on her,” per the TikToker.“I’ll tell you one thing more. Hi, my name is Elle King and I’m f—ing hammered,” King said.Elle King performing in April 2023.Scott Dudelson/Getty for StagecoachA rep for King has not commented on the incident.One day later, the Grand Ole Opry responded to fan concerns onX (formerly twitter), after one attendee said King “ruined the night with her horrible, drunk, and profane performance,” calling it “a shame we all had to witness that.““Hi Judas, we deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance,” the Opry wrote in response.Elle King performs in Milwaukee in June 2023.PolkImaging/Penske Media via Getty ImagesDays after the incident, King rescheduled several upcoming concerts for later this year.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.King previously spoke with theSan Diego Tribunein 2022 about performing drunk, sharing that she doesn’t want to get as drunk as she used to on stage.Elle King in Nashville in November 2022.Jason Kempin/Getty"It’s easier for me to say: ‘Yeah, I want to drink and party and [then] go on stage,'” she said. “I get nervous before I go on stage, [so] I have couple of drinks [first]. Drinking makes me less nervous about hitting the notes when I sing. If I don’t make them, it won’t sting as much.“King added that she puts “being a mother way, way, way above having a good time.” The singer shares 2-year-oldson Lucky Leviwith Daniel Tooker.If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
Dolly Partondoesn’t hold animosity towardElle King.
After King told patronsshe was “f—ing hammered"and admitted to forgetting lyrics to Parton’s “Marry Me” during a Grand Ole Opry performance celebrating the country icon’s 78th birthday at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last month, the “Jolene” singer is coming to her defense.
“Elle is really a great artist,” said Parton of the “Ex’s and Oh’s” musician, 34, inan interview withExtra. “She’s a great girl, and she’s been going through of hard things lately.”
Dolly Parton; Elle King.Jason Kempin/Getty Images for American Greetings; Hubert Vestil/Getty
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for American Greetings; Hubert Vestil/Getty
The Grammy-winning superstar continued, “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.”
During the concert on Jan. 19 — which also featured performances fromAshley Monroe,Tigirlily Gold, Dailey & Vincent and Terri Clark — King, 34, could be seen going back-and-forth with audience members about refunds inseveral videosshared toTikTok.
The exchange followed King seemingly singing in gibberish — and improvisational lines about her not knowing the lyrics to “Marry Me” — while she was admittedly impaired.
Elle King.Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty
“I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this f—ing town,” King sang. “Don’t tell Dolly ‘cause it’s her birthday.”
She later added after the song: “Everyone’s like, holy s—, we bought tickets to this s—. I’m not even going to lie,” she said while putting her hands in her pockets. “Holy s—. I’m not even going to f—ing lie. Y’all bought tickets for this s—?”
After telling fans that they “ain’t gettin’ your money back,” a crowd member then responded with “I don’t want it.”
Elle King in Las Vegas in May 2022.Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
“Good, ‘cause you ain’t getting it,” King quipped.
According to a TikTok user who attended the show, King swore on stage “about 15 times” before the exchange with the crowd and “forgot the words to the Dolly song she was supposed to sing.” The venue then “shut the curtain on her,” per the TikToker.
“I’ll tell you one thing more. Hi, my name is Elle King and I’m f—ing hammered,” King said.
Elle King performing in April 2023.Scott Dudelson/Getty for Stagecoach
A rep for King has not commented on the incident.
One day later, the Grand Ole Opry responded to fan concerns onX (formerly twitter), after one attendee said King “ruined the night with her horrible, drunk, and profane performance,” calling it “a shame we all had to witness that.”
“Hi Judas, we deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance,” the Opry wrote in response.
Elle King performs in Milwaukee in June 2023.PolkImaging/Penske Media via Getty Images
PolkImaging/Penske Media via Getty Images
Days after the incident, King rescheduled several upcoming concerts for later this year.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
King previously spoke with theSan Diego Tribunein 2022 about performing drunk, sharing that she doesn’t want to get as drunk as she used to on stage.
Elle King in Nashville in November 2022.Jason Kempin/Getty
“It’s easier for me to say: ‘Yeah, I want to drink and party and [then] go on stage,'” she said. “I get nervous before I go on stage, [so] I have couple of drinks [first]. Drinking makes me less nervous about hitting the notes when I sing. If I don’t make them, it won’t sting as much.”
King added that she puts “being a mother way, way, way above having a good time.” The singer shares 2-year-oldson Lucky Leviwith Daniel Tooker.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
