Dolly Parton has always dismissed Porter Wagoner’s claim of being solely responsible for her success in music. While Wagoner helped increase her visibility through his television program, Parton noted that she had already worked on her career long before they met. Despite this, Wagoner often credited himself with influencing her early success.
Porter Wagoner, popularly known as Mr. Grand Ole Opry, charted 81 singles for over three decades. In the late ’60s, he brought Dolly Parton onto his television show, The Porter Wagoner Show, and they usually sang a duet on the show before Dolly Parton left it in 1974. However, the couintry music singer believed his influence played a significant role in her journey.
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton’s professional relationship lasted about a decade, but during their time together, Wagoner made most of the decisions and often insisted on doing things his way. Hence, Porter Wagoner believed that many of the choices he made for Parton’s career led to her success, as he had pushed her to record some songs that eventually became hits.
However, despite Porter Wagoner’s testimony about his role in her career, Dolly Parton had a different perspective. She denied he discovered her and emphasized that she had been working toward success long before they partnered. In her book, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business, the singer noted that she often wished Porter Wagoner would not take more credit than was due him while also wondering if he got enough credit.
Professional relationship
“Porter did not discover me.” Said Dolly Parton, adding that her uncle Bill had connected her with Fred Foster, Monument Records, and Combine Publishing, and she had already made progress in the music industry before she met Wagoner, having three chart records, had co-written the country song of the year, and had appeared on national television shows, including American Bandstand.
Though he claimed his role in shaping Parton’s career, he still acknowledged that she had the talent and ambition to succeed on her own, even when she was much younger. However, several people had affirmed his role in Dolly Parton’s career as the one who made “Dolly what she is.”