Gene Watson Peer’s Quote from Porter Wagoner: March 2006

Gene Watson's Peers

Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!

All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2006, were most gracious with their time and words.

It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Porter Wagoner, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 22 March 2006.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Porter Wagoner who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.

Porter Wagoner
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 22 March 2006.

‘I am proud to send a quote about my friend, Gene Watson.

Gene is a singers’ singer.

I’m so glad that he recorded one of my songs, ‘Tennessee Sunshine‘, during his career.

It’s always a thrill to introduce Gene Watson at The Grand Ole Opry’

Thank you, Porter Wagoner, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Porter Wagoner…

Porter Wagoner was born Porter Wayne Wagoner on Friday 12 August 1927, of Irish-German heritage, in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri near the Arkansas border and was a country music icon.

The ‘Thin Man From West Plains’ (Missouri) was renowned for his grand showmanship, his rhinestone suits, his loyalty to The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, his championing of Dolly Parton, his unique singing voice, his exquisite recitations, his song-writing and his record production.

Porter Wagoner’s first band, The Blue Ridge Boys, performed on radio station KWPM from a butcher shop in his native West Plains, Missouri where Porter Wagoner cut meat.  Porter Wagoner’s big break came in 1951, when he was hired as a performer by radio station KWTO in Springfield, Missouri.  This led to a contract with RCA Records.  With lagging sales, Porter Wagoner and his trio played schoolhouses for the gate proceeds.


In 1953, Porter Wagoner’s song, ‘Trademark’ (co-written with Gary Walker), became a hit for Carl Smith (Tuesday 15 March 1927 – Saturday 16 January 2010) on Columbia Records, which was followed by a few hit singles of his own on RCA Records.


Porter Wagoner was a featured performer on ABC-TV’s ‘Ozark Jubilee’ and moved to Nashville, joining The Grand Ole Opry in 1957.


In 1956, Porter Wagoner saw the release of his debut album, ‘Satisfied Mind’ (RCA Victor Records, 1956), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

‘Satisfied Mind’, which was written by Joe ‘Red’ Hayes (Sunday 4 April 1926 – Friday 2 March 1973) and Andrew Jackson ‘Jack’ Rhodes (12 January 1907 – Wednesday 9 October 1968)
(No.1, 1955)

‘Company’s Coming’, which was written by Johnny Mullins (Tuesday 23 October 1923 – Wednesday 16 September 2009)
(No.7, 1955)

Porter Wagoner’s debut album, ‘Satisfied Mind’ (RCA Victor Records, 1956), also included ‘That’s It’ (written by Gary Walker and Porter Wagoner).


Carl Smith (Tuesday 15 March 1927 – Saturday 16 January 2010) recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Trademark’ (co-written with Gary Walker); the track, which reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1953, was subsequently included on ‘Carl Smith’ (Columbia Records, 1956), ‘Satisfaction Guaranteed’ (Harmony Records, 1967), ‘The Essential Carl Smith’ (Columbia Records, 1991) and ‘Carl Smith: The Best of: 1951 – 1970’ (Hux Records, 2013).


In December 1961, Porter Wagoner saw the release of ‘A Slice of Life’ (RCA Victor Records, 1961), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

‘Uncle Pen’, which was written by Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996)
(No.14, 1956)

‘I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name’, which was written by Lee Emerson Bellamy (Sunday 15 May 1927 – Saturday 2 December 1978)
(No.11, 1957)

‘Misery Loves Company’, which was written by Jerry Reed Hubbard (Saturday 20 March 1937 – Monday 1 September 2008)
(No.1, 1962) / this track was also recorded by Ronnie Milsap, who included it on ‘Milsap Magic’ (RCA Records, 1980)

Porter Wagoner’s ‘A Slice of Life’ (RCA Victor Records, 1961) also included ‘My Name Is Mud’, which was written by Bill Anderson.


In May 1962, Porter Wagoner & Skeeter Davis (Wednesday 30 December 1931 – Sunday 19 September 2004) saw the release of ‘Porter Wagoner & Skeeter Davis Sing Duets’ (RCA Victor Records, 1962); some of the tracks on the album included the following:

‘Little Bitty Tear’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)

‘Sorrow’s Tearing Down The House’, which was written by
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) and Kent Westberry

‘A Violet & A Rose’, which was written by
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017), Bud Auge and John Reinfield

‘There’s Always One (Who Loves A Lot)’, which was written by Mary Biggs, Floyd Biggs and Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022)


In March 1963, Porter Wagoner saw the release of ‘The Porter Wagoner Show’ (RCA Victor Records, 1963), which was recorded ‘live’ on Wednesday 30 October 1962 and Thursday 31 October 1962; some of the included tracks were the following:

‘I’ve Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand’ (written by Bill Anderson)
(No.7, in late 1962 / early 1963)

‘Silver Threads & Golden Needles’, which was written by Andrew Jackson ‘Jack’ Rhodes (12 January 1907 – Wednesday 9 October 1968) and Dick Reynolds
 / this track was a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean

‘I’ll Take A Chance On Loving You’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) and Lucy Cole
 / this track was a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean

‘I Want To Live Again’, which was written by Charles ‘Fuzzy’ Owen (Tuesday 30 April 1929 – Tuesday 12 May 2020)
/ this track was a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean

‘It Keeps Right On A Hurting’ (written by Johnny Tillotson)
/ this track was a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean


In March 1963, Porter Wagoner saw the release of ‘Satisfied Mind’ (RCA Camden Records, 1963), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:

‘Eat, Drink & Be Merry (Tomorrow You’ll Cry)’ (written by Celia Ferguson and Sandra Ferguson)
(No.3, 1963)


In September 1963, Porter Wagoner saw the release of ‘Y’All Come’ (RCA Victor Records, 1963); some of the included tracks were the following:

‘Detroit City’, which was written by Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) and Danny Dill (Friday 19 September 1924 – Thursday 23 October 2008)
‘Bad News Travels Fast (In Our Town)’ (written by Bobby Bare)
‘There’s A Rainbow In Every Teardrop’, which was written by Erwin King and Slim Whitman (Saturday 20 January 1923 – Wednesday 19 June 2013)


In May 1964, Porter Wagoner saw the release of ‘In Person’ (RCA Victor Records, 1964), which was recorded ‘live’ on Friday 10 January 1964, and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:

‘My Baby’s Not Here (In Town Tonight)’, which was written by W.S. Stevenson (1900 – 1978), Clyde Beam and Charles Jiles
(No.20, 1964)

Porter Wagoner’s ‘In Person’ (RCA Victor Records, 1964) also included the following tracks:

‘Talk Back Tremblin’ Lips’, which was written by John D. Loudermilk (Saturday 31 March 1934 – Wednesday 21 September 2016)
 / this track was a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean

‘Private Little World’ (written by Dave Burgess)
 / this track was a duet with Pretty Miss Norma Jean


Porter Wagoner’s 81 charted records included the following:

‘Sorrow On The Rocks’
(No.5, 1964)

‘Green Green Grass of Home’, which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016)
(No.4, 1965)

‘Skid Row Joe’
(No.3, late 1965 / early 1966)

‘The Cold Hard Facts of Life’
(No.2, 1967)

‘The Carroll County Accident’, which was written by Bob Ferguson (Friday 30 December 1927 – Sunday 22 July 2001)
(No.2, 1968)


Porter Wagoner’s hit duets with Dolly Parton included the following:

‘The Last Thing On My Mind’ (written by Tom Paxton)
(No.7, 1967)

‘We’ll Get Ahead Someday’
(No.5, 1968)

‘Just Someone I Used To Know’, which was written by ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013)
(No.5, 1969)

‘Better Move It On Home’
(No.7, 1971)

‘The Right Combination’
(No.14, 1971)

‘Please Don’t Stop Loving Me’ (written by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton)
(No.1 for one week in October 1974)

‘Making Plans’
(No.2, 1980)


Porter Wagoner also won three Grammy Awards for his gospel recordings.


Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner
Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner

In 1967, Dolly Parton became a member of Porter Wagoner’s entourage and they immediately became a major force within country music.

Between October 1967 and October 1974, Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner charted twenty-one singles on the Billboard country music singles chart, fourteen of which reached the Billboard Top 10.

‘The Porter Wagoner Show’ ran on American syndicated television from 1960 until 1981.  There were 686 thirty-minute episodes filmed, the first 104 being shot in black & white, the remainder in colour.

At its peak, ‘The Porter Wagoner Show’ was featured in over one hundred markets, with an average viewership of over three million.


Porter Wagoner’s stage alter ego was Skid Row Joe.  The regular cast included singer Norma Jean Beasler (1960 – 1967), singer Dolly Parton (1967 – 1974), country music singer Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017), comedian & stand-up bass player, Speck Rhodes, announcer Don Howser and the house band, The Wagonmasters.


Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘If I Lose My Mind’ and included the track on ‘Coat of Many Colours’ (RCA Records, 1971).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Mystery of The Mystery’ and included the track on ‘Coat of Many Colours’ (RCA Records, 1971).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Way I See You’ and included the track on ‘Coat of Many Colours’ (RCA Records, 1971).


Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Lot of You Left In Me’ (co-written with Dolly Parton) and included the track on ‘Touch Your Woman’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Mission Chapel Memories’ (co-written with Dolly Parton) and included the track on ‘Touch Your Woman’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Loneliness Found Me’ and included the track on ‘Touch Your Woman’ (RCA Records, 1972).


Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Lonely Comin’ Down’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Do You Hear The Robins Sing’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘What Ain’t To Be Just Might Happen’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Bird That Never Flew’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Comes & Goes’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Washday Blues’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972); the track reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972.

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘When I Sing For Him’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘He Left Me Love’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘He’s Everywhere’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Still On Your Mind’ and included the track on ‘My Favourite Songwriter’ (RCA Records, 1972).


Ernest Tubb: 'I've Got All The Heartaches I Can Handle' (Decca Records, 1973)

Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Texas Troubadour’ and included the track on ‘I’ve Got All The Heartaches I Can Handle’ (Decca Records, 1973).




Connie Smith
recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘When I Sing For Him’ and included the track on ‘God Is Abundant’ (Columbia Records, 1973).


Jim Ed Brown (Sunday 1 April 1934 – Thursday 11 June 2015) recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Tender Touch of Love’ and included the track on ‘Barrooms & Pop-A-Tops’ (RCA Records, 1973).


Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Afraid To Love & Afraid of Dying’ and included the track on ‘Bubbling Over’ (RCA Records, 1973).

Dolly Parton recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Love, You’re So Beautiful Tonight’ and included the track on ‘Bubbling Over’ (RCA Records, 1973).




Gene Watson recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Tennessee Sunshine’ and included the track on ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1977).

On Tuesday 3 December 2002, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1977), along with Gene Watson‘s ‘Love in the Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), as a special 2-for-1 CD set (HUX036).


Porter Wagoner brought James Brown to The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, produced a rhythm & blues album for Joe Simon, and appeared in the Clint Eastwood film, ‘Honkytonk Man’, in 1980.


During the mid-1980s, Porter Wagoner formed The Right Combination, an all girl group, which was named after one of Porter & Dolly Parton’s hit records.


In April 1980, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) saw the release of ‘The Way I Am’ (MCA Records, 1980), which was produced by Porter Wagoner, Don Gant (Saturday 24 October 1942 – Sunday 15 March 1987) and Charles ‘Fuzzy’ Owen (Tuesday 30 April 1929 – Tuesday 12 May 2020), and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:

‘The Way I Am’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton)
(No.2, 1980)

Merle Haggard‘s ‘The Way I Am’ (MCA Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:

‘Sky-Bo’, which was written by Merle Haggard) (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘No One To Sing For (But The Band)’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Remember Me (I’m The One Who Loves You)’, which was written by Stuart Hamblen (Tuesday 20 October 1908 – Wednesday 8 March 1989)
‘Life’s Just Not The Way It Used To Be’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Wake Up’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Where Have You Been’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘Take Me Back & Try Me One More Time’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)
‘I’ll Always Be Glad To Take You Back’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)
‘It Makes No Difference Now’, which was written by Jimmie Davis (11 September 1899 – Sunday 5 November 2000) and Floyd Tillman (Tuesday 8 December 1914 – Friday 22 August 2003)
‘It’s Been So Long, Darling’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)


Con Hunley

In 1983, Con Hunley saw the release, on MCA Records, of a version of Porter Wagoner’s classic song, ‘Satisfied Mind’, which was written by Joe ‘Red’ Hayes (Sunday 4 April 1926 – Friday 2 March 1973) and Jack Rhodes (1908 – 1968); the track, which reached No.84 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, featured guest vocals from Porter Wagoner.


During the 1990s, Porter Wagoner hosted ‘Opry Backstage’ on The Nashville Network (TNN), a show on which he interviewed guests.


Though Dolly Parton’s departure caused some animosity on both sides, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton reconciled in the late 1980s and appeared together a number of times in the following years.

It was Dolly Parton who announced the induction of Porter Wagoner into The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2002.


Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘The Pain of Loving You’ (co-written with Dolly Parton) and included the track on ‘Trio’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1987).




Mandy Barnett
recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Trademark’ (co-written with Gary Walker) and included the track on ‘I’ve Got A Right To Cry’ (Sire Records, 1999).


Jennifer Weatherly recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘When I Sing For Him’ and included the track on ‘In The Name of Love’ (JK Records, 2000).


On Tuesday 1 May 2001, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) the release of ‘Cabin In The Hills’ (Hag Records, 2001), a Bakersfield-style collection of gospel music, either written or arranged by Merle Haggard, with the exception of Iris Dement’s sublime ‘Shores of Jordan’ and Brumley & Brumley’s ‘This World Is Not My Home’.

Merle Haggard‘s ‘Cabin In The Hills’ (Hag Records, 2001) was self-produced and was released on Merle Haggard‘s own record label, Hag Records, and Merle Haggard was joined on Dobro and steel guitar by Norman Hamlet, and on vocals by Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 – Sunday 28 October 2007) and Bonnie Owens (Tuesday 1 October 1929 – Monday 24 April 2006).


Karen Collins recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Trademark’ (co-written with Gary Walker) and included the track on ‘Backroads & Bayous’ (Azalea City Recordings, 2005).


In January 2006, Porter Wagoner saw the release of ‘Gospel 2006’ (Tee Vee Records, 2006); a single, ‘The Dream (A True Story)’, which was written by Porter Wagoner, received great reviews, along with airplay on many of the top classic and Christian country music radio stations across the United States.

Porter Wagoner’s ‘Gospel 2006’ (Tee Vee Records, 2006) also included the following tracks:

‘Workin’ On A Building’
/ this track featured guest vocals from Pam Gadd
‘Glorybound Train’
‘Dreaming of A Little Cabin’
/ this track featured guest vocals from Pam Gadd
‘Satan Gets The Gold’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘Old Country Church’
 / this track featured guest vocals from Pam Gadd
‘Why Me Lord’ (written by Kris Kristofferson)
‘Something Got A Hold of Me’
‘If We Never Meet Again (This Side of Heaven)’
 / this track featured guest vocals from Pam Gadd
‘If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again’
‘Pastor Absent On Vacation’
‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’


On Friday 14 July 2006, Porter Wagoner was hospitalised and underwent surgery for an abdominal aneurysm.


On Saturday 19 May 2007, Porter Wagoner was honoured at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville for his fifty years of membership and his 80th birthday; the event was telecast on Great American Country’s ‘Grand Ole Opry Live’ that day with artists including Marty Stuart, Dolly Parton and Patty Loveless.

Great American Country’s ‘Grand Ole Opry Live’ host Nan Kelley was also part of the birthday celebration.


On Tuesday 5 June 2007, Porter Wagoner saw the release of his final album; ‘Wagonmaster’ (ANTI- Records, 2007) was produced by Marty Stuart for the ANTI- Records label, received the best reviews of Porter Wagoner’s career and briefly charted on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart.

Porter Wagoner’s ‘Wagonmaster’ (ANTI Records, 2007), which was the country music legend’s first and last album for the predominantly punk label ANTI- Records, included the following tracks:

‘Wagonmaster, Part 1’ (written by Marty Stuart)
‘Be A Little Quieter’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘Who Knows Right From Wrong’, which was written by Pearl Butler (Friday 30 September 1927 – Tuesday 1 March 1988)
‘Albert Erving’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘A Place To Hang My Hat’ (written by Shawn Camp, Byron Hill and Brice Long)
‘Eleven Cent Cotton’ (written by Porter Wagoner and Marty Stuart)
‘My Many Hurried Southern Trips’ (written by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner)


A music video for Porter Wagoner’s ‘Committed To Parkview’, which was written by Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003)

‘Committed To Parkview’, which was written by Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003 / a music video was made for this track, which was the album’s only single, but it did not chart on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart

‘The Agony of Waiting’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘Buck & The Boys’ (written by Marty Stuart)
‘Fool Like Me’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘Late Love of Mine’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘Hotwired’ (written by Shawn Camp and Mark D. Sanders)
‘Brother Harold Dee’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘Satan’s River’ (written by Porter Wagoner)
‘Wagonmaster, Part 2’ (written by Marty Stuart)
Porter Wagoner & Marty Stuart: ‘Men With Broken Hearts’ (written by Porter Wagoner) / (I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle’, which was written by Jimmie Davis (11 September 1899 – Sunday 5 November 2000) and Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)

Personnel involved in the recording of Porter Wagoner’s ‘Wagonmaster’ (ANTI- Records, 2007) included the following:

Stuart Duncan (acoustic guitar, fiddle)
Eric Fritsch (piano, Hammond organ)
Brian Glenn (upright bass)
Carl Jackson (background vocals)
Mike Johnson and Fred Newell (pedal steel guitar)
Gordon Mote (piano)
Harry Stinson (drums)
Marty Stuart (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals)
Charles Wilburn ‘Buck’ Trent (Thursday 17 February 1938 – Monday 9 October 2023) (banjo, electric banjo)
Kenny Vaughan (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, archguitar)

Porter Wagoner’s ‘Wagonmaster’ (ANTI- Records, 2007) reached No.63 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2007.

During the summer of 2007, Porter Wagoner toured to promote ‘Wagonmaster’ (ANTI- Records, 2007); one of these shows was opening for the rock group The White Stripes at a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.


On Friday 19 October 2007, Porter Wagoner’s publicist Darlene Bieber announced that the singer had been hospitalised and was in a very serious condition.  WSMV-TV reported that Porter Wagoner was admitted earlier that week for observation.

Darlene Bieber gave no further information, but did state that Porter Wagoner was asking for prayers from his family and fans.


On Sunday 21 October 2007, Porter Wagoner’s publicist confirmed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer; Porter Wagoner was released into hospice care on Friday 26 October 2007.

Porter Wagoner passed away, two days later, on Sunday 28 October 2007, in Nashville.


On Thursday 1 November 2007, Porter Wagoner’s funeral was held at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and was followed by internment at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Up until his illness and death, Porter Wagoner had appeared regularly on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and had toured actively.  Porter Wagoner’s long-time duet partner and friend, Dolly Parton, performed a concert at her Tennessee theme park Dollywood in his honour after his death.


Patty Loveless: 'Sleepless Nights' (Saguaro Road Records, 2008)

Patty Loveless recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘The Pain of Loving You’ (co-written with Dolly Parton) and included the track on ‘Sleepless Nights’ (Saguaro Records, 2008).


Aubrey Lovejoy recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Silence In The Wind’ and included the track on ‘Silence In The Wind’ (Mosrite Records, 2010).




Amber Digby
& Justin Trevino recorded Porter Wagoner’s ‘Right Combination’ and included the track on ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2010).




• Visit Porter Wagoner’s Wikipedia Profile