The Grand Ole Opry apologized to an audience member who wrote a complaint on social media after Elle King’s performance. King took the stage during an “Opry Goes Dolly” show, honoring country legend Dolly Parton on her 78th birthday, on Friday, January 19. The show was held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
King was part of a lineup that also included Terri Clark, Ashley Monroe, Dailey & Vincent and Tigirlily Gold. Videos circulated on social media of King appearing drunk, using foul language and seemingly forgetting the lyrics to Parton’s “Marry Me” on stage. Some videos show King said she was “f***ing hammered,” “holy s***, don’t tell Dolly [amid the apparently forgotten lyrics during her performance],” among other profane comments in front of the Opry crowd.
One commenter on social media wrote: “I wish she would’ve been there because Elle King ruined the night with her horrible, drunk, and profane performance. Dolly Parton would’ve been mortified. For our first time at The Opry, it was a shame we all had to witness that.”
The Opry posted in a response on X, formerly Twitter: “...we deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance.”
The audience member wrote in a reply that “it was such a disappointment,” having spent $300 on tickets for a performance that “was like (a) lackluster karaoke performer wasted out of their minds. Awful.” Other commenters also weighed in on King’s performance across social media platforms.
King has not publicly commented on her performance — or reactions to it — as of publication time on Monday (January 22). Parton also has not commented at this time.