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\n\tThe Grand Ole Opry apologized to offended fans over the weekend after singer Elle King<\/a> unleashed a profanity-laced rant during a Dolly Parton<\/a> tribute concert at Nashville\u2019s Ryman Auditorium on Friday celebrating the iconic singer\u2019s 78th birthday. The mea culpa came after King, who described herself onstage as \u201cf\u2013king hammered,\u201d was attempting a cover of Parton\u2019s 2001 song \u201cMarry Me,\u201d during which the \u201cDrunk (And I Don\u2019t Wanna Go Home)\u201d singer admitted she could not remember the lyrics.<\/p>\n \n\tIn video clips<\/a> of the incident, King appears to fumble for the lines to the song, singing instead \u201cI don\u2019t give a s\u2013t\u201d and \u201cI don\u2019t know the lyrics to these things in this f\u2013king town\u2026 Don\u2019t tell Dolly \u2019cause it\u2019s her birthday,\u201d holding the last word for an extended beat before rolling her eyes exaggeratedly.<\/p>\n \n\tThe singer then turned her attention to the surprised crowd, telling them, \u201cI\u2019m not even gonna lie. That\u2019s a b-side for ya. I\u2019m not even gonna f\u2013kin\u2019 lie. Y\u2019all bought tickets for this s\u2013t? you ain\u2019t getting your money back\u2026 I\u2019ll tell you one thing more. Hi, my name is Elle King and I\u2019m f\u2013king hammered.\u201d When a member of King\u2019s band suggested she sing one of her own songs instead of trying another Parton cover, King responded, \u201cI can barely play another person\u2019s song, let me see if I can play one of mine.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tKing\u2019s uneven performance drew the ire of many country music fans and resulted in an apology from the Opry, which tweeted<\/a> \u201cWe deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night\u2019s second Opry performance.\u201d The tweet came in response to a message from a disgruntled attendee, who\u2019d written, \u201cIt was such a disappointment to spend $300 on tickets for a show where one of the artists ruined an entire night. I mean it\u2019s The Opry, the greatest country venue in the world. That performance was like lackluster karaoke performer wasted out of their minds. Awful.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tIn a follow-up, the person added, \u201cI wish she would\u2019ve been there because Elle King ruined the night with her horrible, drunk, and profane performance. Dolly Parton would\u2019ve been mortified. For our first time at The Opry, it was a shame we all had to witness that.\u201d The show also featured tributes from Ashley Monroe, Terri Clark, Tigirlily Gold and Dailey and Vincent.<\/p>\n \n\tParton\u2019s younger sister, singer Stella Parton, was also disappointed with King\u2019s performance, tweeting<\/a>, \u201cI didn\u2019t see nor hear the Grand Ole Opry birthday tribute to my big sister Dolly over the weekend. But some lil girl by the name of Elle King apparently cussed and insulted some of Dolly\u2019s fans by not knowing a song. She did admit to being \u2018hammered\u2019 her word not mine.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tStella Parton continued with a history lesson about the Opry, as well as a friendly bit of advice for performers who don\u2019t do their homework. \u201cBut let me just say this, it wouldn\u2019t be the first time a Hillbilly went on the stage of the Opry \u2018hammered\u2019 but I guess it\u2019s ok if you\u2019re a male but good lord don\u2019t ever let a girl behave that way folks! Double f\u2013king standard if ya ask me. So the Opry is apologizing! Lol,\u201d Stella wrote, adding, \u201cTo any lil ego thinking they can learn the lyrics correctly with a half assed listen to one of Dolly\u2019s song. Surprise! You\u2019ll end up looking as silly as that lil girl. Do your homework people. Memorize the lyrics to \u2018Jolene\u2019 or \u2018COMC.\u2019 My sister loves words. A brilliant word smith.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAt press time a spokesperson for King had not returned Billboard<\/em>\u2018s request for comment and it did not appear as if King had commented on the incident on her socials.<\/p>\n \n\tParton celebrated her birthday last week by releasing a deluxe edition of her debut rock album, Rockstar<\/em>, featuring nine bonus tracks<\/a>.<\/p>\n