Elle King returned to the stage for the first time since her controversial and admittedly drunk performance during the Grand Ole Opry’s Dolly Parton tribute at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in January.
On Friday, the country music star, 34, performed an early-night set at the Extra Innings Festival in Tempe, Arizona.
For the performance, King wore a red long-sleeved top, which she paired with a matching snakeskin skirt.
She completed her look with a pair of black sunglasses and minimal jewelry, including a studded belt.
Ella King.
John Medina/Getty
Grand Ole Opry Apologizes To Audience After Elle King Performs ‘Hammered’ At Dolly Parton Tribute
On Saturday, the “Ex’s & Oh’s” singer will hit the stage again as support on Chris Stapleton’s All American Road Show tour, which stops in San Diego. They will also soon be playing a three-date run across the UK before further North American shows later this spring.
King’s festival set comes nearly a month and a half after her controversial appearance at an event honoring Parton’s 78th birthday in late January. At the concert, the singer-songwriter was captured in several fan-filmed videos telling the crowd that she was “fucking beat up” and had forgotten the lyrics.
“I don’t know the words to these things in this fucking town,” she said as she stumbled over the words to “Marry Me.” “Don’t tell Dolly because it’s her birthday.”
King later added after the song, “Everybody’s like, oh my god… we bought tickets for this with… I’m not even going to lie,” she said as she put her hands in her pockets. “Shit….I’m not even gonna lie. You all bought tickets for this s—?”
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Ella King. Scott Dudelson/Getty for Stagecoach All about Ella King’s parents, actor Rob Schneider and former model London King
After the show, which also featured sets by Ashley Monroe, Tigirlily Gold, Dailey & Vincent and Terri Clark, fans took to social media to demand refunds. Venue in Nashville replied to some posts by concertgoers on X (formerly Twitter) with an apology.
The Grammy-nominated singer then postponed five of her upcoming concerts shortly after the incident. At the time, she shared on her Instagram Story that her shows scheduled for the winter in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan have been pushed back to late March, while her concert in Dallas, Texas, has been pushed back to September.
“Your tickets will be valid for the new dates. If you are unable to attend the new date, refunds are available at the point of purchase,” King wrote. “See you there!”
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In February, Parton revealed in an interview with Extra that she harbored no animosity toward King over the incident. “Elle is a really great artist,” the country music legend said. – She is a great girl and has been going through difficult things lately.
The “Jolene” singer added, “She just had a little too much to drink, so let’s forgive it and forget it and move on, ’cause she felt worse than anyone ever could.”
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Ella King.
Hubert Vestil/Getty
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The Come get your wife the artist previously spoke about her history of performing under the influence of alcohol. In 2022 San Diego Tribune interview, she stated that she does not want to be drunk on stage as she has been in the past.
“It’s easier for me to say: ‘Yes, I want to drink and have fun and [then] go on stage,'” the country star said. “I get nervous before I go on stage, [so] I had a couple of drinks [first]. Drinking makes me less nervous about hitting notes while singing. If I don’t make them, they won’t sting as much.”
King added that “being a mother is much, much more than just having a good time.” The singer has a two-year-old son, Lucky Levi, with Daniel Tooker.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the SAMHSA Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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Source: HIS Education