When Dolly Parton was nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in early 2022, she initially declined the honour.

Parton, who died on Tuesday aged 80, said at the time she was “flattered and grateful” but did not believe she had “earned that right”.

“I must respectfully bow out,” she posted to millions of followers on Instagram.

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“I do hope that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again - if I’m ever worthy. This has, however, inspired me to put out a hopefully great rock‘n’roll album at some point.”

When Parton eventually relented upon learning the boundaries of “rock and roll” had expanded over the years — the Hall’s class of 2022 also included Eminem and Lionel Richie — her star-studded performance set in train her final and highest-charting album.

Two months after taking the stage alongside the Zac Brown Band, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, Duran Duran pin-up Simon Le Bon, Pink and Sheryl Crow, she announced the November 2023 release of Rockstar — the album promised barely 18 months earlier.

A mix of original material and guest-heavy classic rock covers, it was an instant success, reaching No.3 on the US Billboard Top 200 and No.16 in Australia.

In addition to appearances from luminaries such as Sting, Elton John and Stevie Nicks, Rockstar also reunited Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney on Parton’s version of Let It Be.

Her favourite collaborator? When Bob Seger was unable to join her for his 1976 hit Night Moves, she recruited his bearded spiritual successor Chris Stapleton.

The final song released under Parton’s own name was her version of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird. Alongside the vocal track from Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant, who died in the band’s infamous 1977 plane crash, guitarist Gary Rossington reprised his legendary solo, in the process stretching the original nine-minute runtime well beyond 10 minutes.

Rossington, the sole remaining founding member of the southern rock legends, himself died soon after his contribution.

Parton’s eye for collaboration continued into her final years with a 2024 appearance on Beyonce’s equally genre-defying album Cowboy Carter and a 2025 duet with pop princess Sabrina Carpenter.

Eminem was among artists from across the musical spectrum paying tribute after her passing, sharing a letter Parton had sent him after their Hall of Fame induction.

“Even for a kid who mostly listened to rap music, she was an icon,” he wrote.

“A superstar in every sense.”

Not rock enough? Even icons get it wrong sometimes.