22 January 2024 , 10:22
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Elle King has been slammed by furious fans after she confessed she was “hammered” during a Dolly Parton tribute gig.
The 34-year-old singer took to the stage at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry in the Ryman Auditorium on Friday, as she was included in a line-up of stars who were performing a special concert - The Opry Goes Dolly show - in honour of the country legend’s 78th birthday. Other artists included Ashley Monroe, Tigirlily Gold, Dailey & Vincent and Terri Clark, but it was Elle’s performance that upset audience members.
Many who attended the concert took to social media to share videos of Elle’s disastrous gig, as she could be heard slurring her words, as well as forgetting the lyrics to some of Dolly’s classic hits. In one video shared on TikTok, the Ex’s and Oh’s hitmaker has trouble singing Dolly’s song Marry Me, and told the shocked audience: “I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this f***ing town… Don’t tell Dolly ‘cause it’s her birthday.”
READ MORE: Dolly Parton's wildest anti-ageing tricks from surgery to wigs and gloves as she turns 78
Fans said the venue cut her performance and closed the curtain
Elle has previously admitted she drinks before performing to help with her nerves (Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Images)She then began to wind up the crowd, asking them: “You spent money for this s**t?” before seemingly confessing to being inebriated during the special gig, as her fans began to heckle her. “You ain’t getting your money back. I’ll tell you one thing more: ‘Hi, my name is Elle King, I’m f***ing hammered,’” she told the furious crowd, as it was suggested by one of her band members to play one of her own tracks. “I can barely play another person’s song, let me see if I can play one of mine,” Elle mumbled.
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Concertgoers were furious at the singer’s lacklustre and expletive-laden performance, and one fan posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Elle had “ruined” Dolly’s birthday tribute gig. “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… It was such a disappointment to spend $300 on tickets for a show where one of the artists ruined an entire night,” they fumed.
Elle has yet to comment on the disastrous gig (Getty Images for SXSW)“Elle King disrespected the Ryman and Dolly Parton,” one commented on a video from the gig on TikTok. A spokesperson for the Ryman Auditorium issued an apology after the concert, which read: “We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night's second Opry performance.” However, Elle has not yet commented on the backlash over her performance.
She previously spoke about her love for drinking during her gigs, and in 2022, she said booze makes her feel “less nervous”. “I really like to drink and sing. I don’t want to get as drunk as I used to. I get nervous before I go on stage, [so] I have couple of drinks,” Elle admitted.