She's Back. Forgive and Forget?

Country music star Elle King recently made a notable return to the stage at the Extra Innings Festival in Tempe, Arizona, her first performance since a controversial appearance at a Grand Ole Opry tribute to Dolly Parton in January.

During the January event, King, who is the daughter of comedian Rob Schneider, admitted to the audience that she was "hammered" and struggled with the lyrics to Parton's "Marry Me," leading to dissatisfaction among fans and a subsequent apology from the venue.

Following the backlash, King postponed several of her concerts and took a brief hiatus from public performances, using the time to reflect and regroup.

Dolly Parton, the subject of the tribute where King's controversial performance took place, commented on the incident with grace and understanding. The country music legend acknowledged King's artistry and personal struggles, emphasizing forgiveness and the importance of moving on.

Her presence at the festival and her upcoming engagements, including a spot on Chris Stapleton's All American Road Show tour and shows in the U.K. and North America, indicate her eagerness to reconnect with her audience and share her musical talents.

The question is, while King may be ready to try to move on, where does the public stand?  Foe and fans alike have watched King go through a series of tragedies starting with her relationship with her father.

Being the child of a celebrity isn't always as glamorous as some may think. King didn't have a storybook relationship with her celebrity actor father and many times their relationship was on the rocks.

King's first marriage ended in divorce, and not just a typical split up.  Her husband, Andrew Ferguson was arrested in April 2017 for felony domestic violence when it was alleged that he grabbed King by the throat and threatened to kill her. Ultimately, King decided not to press charges.

King then went into a downward spiral self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. She only found the right path through ultimatum's from friends. The path wasn't really straight though, as she continued drinking and doing drugs.

In late 2022, King took a tumble down her stairs at home and ended up with a concussion and long lasting effects.

Then, the Grand Ole Opry happened.  Not only was King an embarrassment in her performance but she also willingly shot of offensive language at the crowd.

How soon will the public "move on" and "forget" about the incident?  Will her fans and supporters forgive and forget?  Time will tell.