'I'M MORTIFIED'
Elle King admits she ‘sobbed’ over the backlash for being ‘hammered’ at Dolly Parton’s birthday at the Grand Ole Opry
Dolly herself called Elle after the performance
ELLE King has opened up for the first time since her drunk performance at Dolly Parton's 78th birthday celebration.
The singer recently appeared on Chelsea Handler's podcast, where she shared why it had taken her months to speak about the situation.
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Elle, 34, memorably told the crowd that she was drunk while performing at Dolly's birthday concert at the Grand Ole Opry.
The country singer immediately received backlash online, with many saying her actions were unprofessional and disrespectful.
"I haven’t spoken about it, because, one, I had to just chill. It was a big deal," Elle told Chelsea.
“I had been going through something very heavy and traumatic in my life at the time.
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"And that day was a really big day dealing with what I was going through, and that I’m still going through, and I suffer from severe PTSD."
She said she hadn't eaten or slept the day of the performance and felt like "a shell of herself."
Elle then explained how she was told last minute that she would be headlining the show, which started out "f**king perfect."
However, after "one shot too many," she knew she was "not there in her body."
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THE AFTERMATH
After the show, Elle admitted that she sobbed on the floor of her dressing room.
The singer then said she was "mortified" as clips from the moment she told the crowd she was intoxicated had circulated the next day.
Elle King slammed over 'disrespectful' performance for Dolly Parton's 78th birthday tribute at the Grand Ole Opry
Despite receiving backlash on social media, she said Dolly called her shortly after the performance with nothing but "kind words."
“Dolly’s not mad at you, why should the world be?” the country legend told Elle over the phone.
After days had passed, the singer said she had to" remove herself from the population for a while," since the backlash had not eased up.
“Regardless of what I was doing in my life and what was happening to me, I don’t feel like I owe to anybody in the f**king world to try and explain," she continued.
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“I also don’t think that it does excuse the fact that maybe I shouldn’t have f**king been drinking.”
She then apologized to those who were offended by her actions at the performance.
"This is a sacred stage and I f**ked up," she said.
"So, for all the people who are asking for an apology from me, hey, if you were there that night and I didn’t get a chance to say I’m sorry to you, I apologize.”
Elle also wrote personal, hand-written letters apologizing to both Dolly and the Grand Ole Opry after the show.
DISRESPECTING DOLLY?
Elle, who is a Grammy-nominated artist, was one of the many stars to take the stage for Dolly's tribute concert in January.
However, she had fans concerned for her when she began slurring her words as she sang and interacted with the crowd.
One fan uploaded a TikTok video of Elle, where she appeared to be arguing with someone in the crowd about getting their money back.
"And I'll tell you one more thing," Elle added.
"Hi, I'm Elle King, and I'm f**king hammered."
The TikToker revealed Elle had used the word "f**k" 15 times before they turned the camera on.
Elle also forgot the words to Dolly's song, Marry Me, while singing the number in front of the crowd.
So, for all the people who are asking for an apology from me, hey, if you were there that night and I didn’t get a chance to say I’m sorry to you, I apologize.”
Elle King
Another video showed Elle saying "I don't give a s**t" in the middle of her performance.
After the concert, the Grand Ol Opry sent out an apology on X, formerly Twitter.
"We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance," the iconic venue wrote.
Critics immediately bashed the country star, with one writing, "#ElleKing disgraced one of the biggest legends of not just country, but of the world. How dare you. #mess."
"Elle King. how disrespectful. not only to dolly, but to every single person who has walked on that stage. i seriously cannot even believe it," a second tweeted.
"Someone get Elle King some help. First the NYE disaster and now she has disrespected Dolly in the Mother Church," slammed a third.
CRINGY END TO 2023
Just weeks before, Elle had performed while drunk at the New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash on December 31.
During her song, Drunk (And I Don't Want To Go Home), she walked downstage and used a high-pitched voice to sing the lyrics.
Fans similarly slammed the artist, with one writing on X, "#ElleKing on #CBSNashvilleNYE broadcast was absolutely cringe-worthy. A fitting way to say goodbye to 2023."
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"I can't believe there isn't anyone who couldn't jump in and sing with #ElleKing. This is bad, cringy, just not good," another said.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
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