Hall Of What?

 Let me begin with a long and detailed expression of appreciation for Dolly Parton. Her music, her self-esteem and her worldview are constant reminders of what we could be. Her million dollar donation to Vanderbilt University helped fund the development of the Moderna vaccine. She put her money where her arm is. Or was. Or continues to be. About a year later, she received her shot, and sang a reworked version of her hit Jolene, “Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you, please don’t hesitate. Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, because once you’re dead, then that’s a bit too late.” In addition to that, she launched and founded the Imagination Library to boost literacy among children. The initiative has mailed more than one hundred thirty-three million free books to children. Her My People Fund gave $9 million to people who lost their homes in fires that took place in 2016 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Go ahead and stack this on or next to the pile of times she has shown her support for the LGBTQ community, including being a regular and vocal supporter of same-sex marriage. Her stance: “everyone should be with who they love.” This came along with her own special tweak, “I think gay couples should be allowed to marry. They should suffer just like us heterosexuals."

There are few folks in show business who are as self-aware of themselves as Dolly. She knows where she came from, and she knows where she's been. The winner of ten Grammys, ten Country Music Awards, and has been nominated twice for an Oscar for best song, and is still waiting for that call for a revival for the Broadway version of Nine To Five to get that Tony. She has been honored by by The Kennedy Center, and every possible country music certificate and achievement that can be doled out to her is well deserved. 

I am not ready, at this point, to explain her inclusion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

I know that this stance is odd, coming as it does from a guy who had to explain to his wife why Carole King was "rock and roll royalty." While it is true that Ms. Parton did a fine cover of Stairway To Heaven on her album Horns & Halos, complete with banjo and fiddle accompaniment, I don't know if this qualifies her for Rock and Roll. Last time I checked, you weren't getting into the Country Music Hall of Fame without a Stetson. Johnny Cash? I can get that, he came up with Elvis. Glen Campbell hasn't made the jump, even though he played guitar for the Monkees and the Beach Boys. 

So maybe I should open my heart to the idea that Dolly is so great and powerful that she can transcend this particular barrier, and I will let the voters decide, but I figure her next prize should probably come from the Nobel Committee.