Highlights
- Porter Wagoner Sued Dolly Parton for $3 million.
- Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner forged a lasting bond that survived a $3 million lawsuit.
- Despite the legal drama, their relationship grew stronger.
Dolly Parton, the Queen of country music, enjoyed several partnerships and collaborations in the peak years of her career. One which stood out among several others was her relationship with Porter Wagoner which played an instrumental role in her rise to fame. Parton joined The Porter Wagoner Show in 1967, shortly after Norma Jean Beasley left. She came in as her replacement and mesmerized audiences alongside Wagoner, leaving an indelible mark on the stage.
The bond shared between Parton and Wagoner profoundly influenced the trajectory of Parton's career. However, it faced tumultuous times when Porter Wagoner initiated legal action against her. In this article, we'll disclose what became of Dolly Parton's relationship with Porter Wagoner after he sued her for $3 million and explore speculations about any romantic involvement between them.
What Happened To Dolly Parton's Relationship With Porter Wagoner After He Sued Her For $3 Million?
Following the legal drama which was heightened by sensational media reports, one would think the relationship between Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner suffered irreparable damage. However, the reverse was the case. Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner forgave each other almost immediately after the saga and even went on to record a reunion album in 1980.
While clearing the air about the controversy, Wagoner revealed that the true story behind their feud never really developed. He reaffirmed his love for Parton while pointing fingers at the attorneys who, according to him, would always have a way of dragging one into the mud and making them look like bitter enemies, which in reality was never so.
Dolly Parton, on the other hand, also spoke about forgiving Wagoner in her book, "Dolly Parton, Songteller: My Life in Lyrics." She wrote:
He gave me great opportunities, and I did appreciate him. Later on, we got back together and he said he was sorry about all of that. So I forgave him, and I asked him to forgive me. I’m sure I was a pain in the a*s to him. I was, because I believed in what I believed in, and I was going to fight for it. There’s truth on either side.
Parton also wrote about how their relationship blossomed till Wagoner’s final days on earth. In fact, Parton was by Wagoner's side two hours before he died.
A few months before Wagoner died in 2007, Dolly Parton honored him with a beautiful rendition of “I Will Always Love You” at the Grand Ole Opry. Also, at the Funeral service for Porter Wagoner, she led an all-star choir in a beautiful emotional rendition of “I Saw The Light”, in loving memory of her long-term ally.
The rift that led to the legal drama between the country music legends began shortly after Parton joined “The Porter Wagoner Show”. Parton had always been a solo girl, but didn't have an audience. So when the opportunity to join him as a duet singer presented itself, she didn't think twice.
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Based on the terms of their agreement, Dolly Parton was to leave the group after 5 years. However, Wagoner became very entitled to Parton when her time with him elapsed. Dolly Parton told People that her relationship with Porter Wagoner was characterized by feuds, loggerheads, and lots of misunderstandings, which further inspired her decision to leave. She said:
It was a love-hate relationship. We fought like cats and dogs. We were just both very passionate people. There was no way that I wasn't going to do what I was going to do. And no way I was going to not do what he thought I was going to do.
After a lot of back and forth with Wagoner, Dolly Parton decided to write and sing “I Will Always Love You” as a goodbye song. Wagoner fell in love with it and agreed to let her leave only after he had produced the record.
- Dolly Parton was born in 1946
Dolly Parton eventually left, and her career thrived and things were going pretty well for her, until 1979, when Porter Wagoner shocked her by suing her for a breach of contract and demanding $3 million. At the time when he sued her, $3 million was not something she could afford.
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The suit came with lots of other demands. According to Wagoner, Parton leaving his show led to the cancelation of a series of his shows. He also claimed that he was still her manager and was entitled to some percentage of her earnings, which she had failed to remit.
The duo went on to settle their differences outside of court and Parton ended up paying Wagoner $1 million in installments over the years, instead of the initial $3 million.
Were Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner Ever Romantically Involved?
Although Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner had a very close professional relationship that spanned for years, they were never romantically involved.
The professional breakup that led to the court battle and the release of “I Will Always Love You” sparked several speculations and rumors about the romantic nature of their relationship. However, Dolly Parton debunked those rumors in her book. Parton wrote that fans will always speculate about an affair when it has to do with a romantic song.
Dolly Parton was already married to Carl Dean when she started working with Wagoner. The couple tied the knot in 1966 and are still together. Wagoner, on the other hand, was married twice, first to Velma Johnson in 1943, but the marriage hit the rocks in less than a year.
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At the time he was working with Parton, Porter Wagoner was married to Ruth Olive Williams, but they parted ways in 1965 but got officially divorced in 1986.
Dolly Parton's presence at Porter Wagoner's bedside, two hours before he gave up the ghost, and the preceding public show of affection by both of them is a shred of evidence that their relationship didn't suffer irreparable damage by the $3 million lawsuit filed against Dolly Parton by Porter Wagoner in the early days of their careers as partners.
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