Country singer Elle King postponed her Friday concert at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth after a sloppy appearance at a Dolly Parton tribute in Nashville that drew criticism last week.
King’s show will now take place Sept. 21. Ticketholders can claim refunds or hold onto their tickets for the new date, according to Billy Bob’s.
“Obviously Elle had a challenging weekend last weekend in her personal life and on the professional stage,” said Billy Bob’s general manager Marty Travis. “This week they called and said they just needed to move the show to September.”
King raised eyebrows during a tribute for Parton’s 78th birthday at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday with an expletive-laden performance she blamed on having had a little too much to drink. Videos circulating online show her flubbing the lyrics to Parton’s “Marry Me.”
“I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this f—ing town,” she said, adding, “Don’t tell Dolly cause it’s her birthday.”
The four-time Grammy nominee went on, “I’ll tell you one thing more. Hi, my name is Elle King and I’m f—ing hammered.”
Her gaffes prompted the Opry to apologize on X, writing, “We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance.”
The message came in response to a fan who wrote, “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.” They added, “It was such a disappointment to spend $300 on tickets for a show where one of the artists ruined an entire night.”
Neither King nor Parton have commented on the incident, which came weeks after viewers voiced concern over King’s slurred lyrics and onstage quips during CBS’ New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash. “It’s OK, I live what I sing, y’all,” she told the crowd before a performance of her song “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” on the show.
Travis said Billy Bob’s had sold about 2,000 tickets for King’s show at Billy Bob’s, which would have been her debut at the venue. She’s visited Billy Bob’s at least once before, however, for Miranda Lambert’s 40th birthday party late last year, he said.
King told The San Diego Union-Tribune in a candid 2022 interview that she has performed both sober and not. “They don’t call it ‘liquid courage’ for nothing,” she said. “I mean, how many jobs do you show up for and there are bottles of liquor on the table for you?”
“The music I made stone cold sober and organically has been some of my favorite music I’ve ever created. It doesn’t mean I’m not proud of the music I made when I wasn’t completely sober.”
After giving birth to a son in 2021, she added that motherhood is a priority for her. “I put being a mother way, way, way above having a good time,” she said.
Elle King postpones concert after drunken performance at Dolly Parton birthday tribute
