Lily Goes Country

Parton sings Porter Wagoner to Death...

Dolly Parton said she was there with his family, sang for him and prayed with him."It felt good that I had the opportunity to say goodbye properly," Parton said.
Wagoner had a streak of hits in the 1960s and '70s, and enjoyed a comeback in recent months with a new album.
To many longtime fans, though, he may be best remembered for his sparkly rhinestone suits and for singing with Dolly on his TV show from 1967 to 1974.
Dolly Parton said Monday she feels like a part of her died along with her old duet partner, Porter Wagoner. But she said she was grateful that she was able to spend a few final hours with the man who launched her career before he succumbed to cancer Sunday.

"Part of him will always live through me and my music as he was my first big break," Parton said.

Country Music Legend Porter Wagoner Dies

Porter Wagoner, a Grand Ole Opry institution and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died Sunday (Oct. 28) in Nashville, Tennessee.
Famous for His Rhinestone Suits, He Was a Grand Ole Opry Star for 50 Years.
Known as the Thin Man From West Plains, he was 80 and had been hospitalized since Oct. 15. An Opry spokesperson announced on Oct. 21 that Wagoner had been diagnosed with lung cancer. More HERE
Wagoner's final album, "Wagonmaster," was released in June and earned him some of the best reviews of his career. Over the summer, he was the opening act for the influential rock duo White Stripes at a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden. More HERE

Porter & Dolly

Tribute


circa 1973


2007

Porter Wagoner diagnosed with lung cancer

Porter Wagoner has lung cancer and remains hospitalized in serious condition, a publicist for the country singer said.

The 80-year-old singer in May celebrated his 50th year at the Grand Ole Opry, the long-running live country music show.

Wagoner, known for his rhinestone stage outfits, helped launch the career of Dolly Parton by hiring her as his duet partner in 1967.

Parton visited Wagoner in the hospital last week and pledged to sing with him again according to Opry spokeswoman Jessie Schmidt.