Dolly Parton and Kate Middleton.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Karwai Tang/WireImageDolly Partonwas invited to tea withKate Middleton, but she playfully turned down the opportunity knowing the meeting would not help her record sales.While onBBC Radio 2, host Claudia Winkleman asked the country music legend, 77, if she planned to see more of London. She has seen the U.K. capital during her years of touring, but this time, her team had her schedule so packed that she could not meet thePrincess of Wales, 41, between promoting her albumRockstar.“This time, Lordy, I even got invited to have tea with Kate,” Parton told Winkleman, 51. “And I felt so bad… I couldn’t even go! They had all this stuff set up.”Dolly Parton in November 2022.Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe “Jolene” singer thought it was a “very sweet and nice” gesture for Kate to invite her to tea, she said. “And one of these days I’m going to get to do that… That would be great!”Parton then joked that there was another reason for skipping the tea date, beyond just a busy schedule.“She wasn’t going to promote my rock album, so I had to say no,” Parton said in jest.Although Parton missed her chance to meet royalty during this trip to the U.K., she has performed for the royal family in the past. In 1977, the Tennessee native performed atQueen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee. More than 45 years later, Parton recalled how afraid she was about curtsying correctly.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Even though you have to do the protocol, you have to bow and all that, I could tell that she didn’t care about that. That’s just something she had to do," Partontold Insiderin February. “And if somebody made a mistake, it was OK.“Parton was “scared to death” about messing up the curtsy, but recalled how “very warm, very sweet” and “very giving” the Queen was. “Just meeting the Queen of England, just to meet a queen, it was amazing,” Parton told the outlet.Kate Middleton in July 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImageThe “I Will Always Love You” singer paid tribute to the Queen whenshe died in September 2022.“She carried herself with grace and strength her entire life,”Parton wrote on Instagram, adding a photo of her meeting with the late monarch. “May she Rest In Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.”Parton’sRockstaralbumwill be released on Nov. 17and features contributions from several U.K. music legends, includingPaul McCartney,Ringo Starr,Mick Fleetwood,Peter Frampton,StingandSimon Le Bon.
Dolly Parton and Kate Middleton.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Karwai Tang/WireImage
Dolly Partonwas invited to tea withKate Middleton, but she playfully turned down the opportunity knowing the meeting would not help her record sales.While onBBC Radio 2, host Claudia Winkleman asked the country music legend, 77, if she planned to see more of London. She has seen the U.K. capital during her years of touring, but this time, her team had her schedule so packed that she could not meet thePrincess of Wales, 41, between promoting her albumRockstar.“This time, Lordy, I even got invited to have tea with Kate,” Parton told Winkleman, 51. “And I felt so bad… I couldn’t even go! They had all this stuff set up.”Dolly Parton in November 2022.Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe “Jolene” singer thought it was a “very sweet and nice” gesture for Kate to invite her to tea, she said. “And one of these days I’m going to get to do that… That would be great!”Parton then joked that there was another reason for skipping the tea date, beyond just a busy schedule.“She wasn’t going to promote my rock album, so I had to say no,” Parton said in jest.Although Parton missed her chance to meet royalty during this trip to the U.K., she has performed for the royal family in the past. In 1977, the Tennessee native performed atQueen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee. More than 45 years later, Parton recalled how afraid she was about curtsying correctly.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“Even though you have to do the protocol, you have to bow and all that, I could tell that she didn’t care about that. That’s just something she had to do,” Partontold Insiderin February. “And if somebody made a mistake, it was OK.“Parton was “scared to death” about messing up the curtsy, but recalled how “very warm, very sweet” and “very giving” the Queen was. “Just meeting the Queen of England, just to meet a queen, it was amazing,” Parton told the outlet.Kate Middleton in July 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImageThe “I Will Always Love You” singer paid tribute to the Queen whenshe died in September 2022.“She carried herself with grace and strength her entire life,”Parton wrote on Instagram, adding a photo of her meeting with the late monarch. “May she Rest In Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.”Parton’sRockstaralbumwill be released on Nov. 17and features contributions from several U.K. music legends, includingPaul McCartney,Ringo Starr,Mick Fleetwood,Peter Frampton,StingandSimon Le Bon.
Dolly Partonwas invited to tea withKate Middleton, but she playfully turned down the opportunity knowing the meeting would not help her record sales.
While onBBC Radio 2, host Claudia Winkleman asked the country music legend, 77, if she planned to see more of London. She has seen the U.K. capital during her years of touring, but this time, her team had her schedule so packed that she could not meet thePrincess of Wales, 41, between promoting her albumRockstar.
“This time, Lordy, I even got invited to have tea with Kate,” Parton told Winkleman, 51. “And I felt so bad… I couldn’t even go! They had all this stuff set up.”
Dolly Parton in November 2022.Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Kevin Kane/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The “Jolene” singer thought it was a “very sweet and nice” gesture for Kate to invite her to tea, she said. “And one of these days I’m going to get to do that… That would be great!”
Parton then joked that there was another reason for skipping the tea date, beyond just a busy schedule.
“She wasn’t going to promote my rock album, so I had to say no,” Parton said in jest.
Although Parton missed her chance to meet royalty during this trip to the U.K., she has performed for the royal family in the past. In 1977, the Tennessee native performed atQueen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee. More than 45 years later, Parton recalled how afraid she was about curtsying correctly.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“Even though you have to do the protocol, you have to bow and all that, I could tell that she didn’t care about that. That’s just something she had to do,” Partontold Insiderin February. “And if somebody made a mistake, it was OK.”
Parton was “scared to death” about messing up the curtsy, but recalled how “very warm, very sweet” and “very giving” the Queen was. “Just meeting the Queen of England, just to meet a queen, it was amazing,” Parton told the outlet.
Kate Middleton in July 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImage
Karwai Tang/WireImage
The “I Will Always Love You” singer paid tribute to the Queen whenshe died in September 2022.
“She carried herself with grace and strength her entire life,”Parton wrote on Instagram, adding a photo of her meeting with the late monarch. “May she Rest In Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time.”
Parton’sRockstaralbumwill be released on Nov. 17and features contributions from several U.K. music legends, includingPaul McCartney,Ringo Starr,Mick Fleetwood,Peter Frampton,StingandSimon Le Bon.
source: people.com
