While country superstars like Shania Twain, Kid Rock, and The Judds have played the Super Bowl in the past, there's one country icon who has never performed at the biggest game of the year. That would be Dolly Parton. The icon told the Hollywood Reporter that she's been offered the gig several times but has never done it herself.
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"Oh, sure," she said in 2023, "I've been offered that many times. I couldn't do it because of other things, or I just didn't think I was big enough to do it — to do that big of a production."
"When you think about those shows, those are big, big productions," she added. "I've never done anything with that big of a production. I don't know if I could have. I think at the time that's what I was thinking."
It's funny to hear Parton say that she doesn't think she's "big enough" for the Super Bowl. Out of all the country artists out there, I feel like she would crush it. She'd also probably be the least likely to spark up controversy while she's at it.
Is Country Music Cool Again?
According to a 2024 YouGov survey, around 33% of Americans listen to country music. Also, the way country music has evolved over the past few years has made it more appealing to lovers of other genres as well.
Even Post Malone, who went certified Platinum with his album F-1 Trillion, commented on the genre's recent rise. "I think people are just wanting to hear good music," he told Kelligh Bannen of Apple Music. "It doesn't matter what you call it. We're blurring the lines... everything is kind of bleeding into each other now, and I think that's a beautiful thing."
Jelly Roll, who just took home the Grammy for Best Contemporary Country Album, also had some theories as to why the genre is doing so well. He told American Songwriter, "I think country music is having this moment because it's the last place where you can just tell the truth. People are tired of the 'perfect' life they see on social media. They want to hear about the struggle, the addiction, and the redemption.
Country music has always been about three chords and the truth, but right now, the world just needs that truth more than ever."
Who knows, at this rate, we might be seeing more country music at the Super Bowl after all.
