ADVERTISEMENT

AOL Radio

Listen to AOL Radio Now
play arrow
Top Country - Today's Hottest Hits
Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts
play arrow
'90s Country - '90s Biggest Hits
Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, George Strait
play arrow
New Country First - Today's new country hits
Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Sugarland
Online Radio Guide

Exclusive Interviews

Chats with your favorite country stars.

Exclusive Performances

Watch live, in-studio performances.

Blogroll

Dolly Shares Unflattering Memories of Porter

Porter Wagoner was the inspiration for Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You,' but he also served as inspiration for something a little less harmonious.

Wagoner hired Parton as a duet partner and sidekick on 'The Porter Wagoner Show' in 1967, helping to put her on the country music map. But it was also his behavior during that show that partly served as inspiration for Parton's '9 to 5' character Doralee, a secretary repressed by her sexist boss.

"He was very much -- I don't mean this in a bad way, so don't play it up that way -- but he very much was a male chauvinist pig," Parton tells the Los Angeles Times. "He was in charge, and it was his show, but he was also very strong-willed. That's why we fought like crazy, because I wouldn't put up with a bunch of stuff."



Parton was on Wagoner's show for seven years before their acrimonious split.

"Out of respect for him, I knew he was the boss, and I would go along to where I felt this was reasonable for me," she recalls. "But once it passed points where it was like, 'Your way or my way, and this is just to control, to prove to you that I can do it,' ... then I would just pitch a damn fit. I wouldn't care if it killed me. I would just say what I thought. I would do like the Doralee character and say, 'I would turn you from a rooster to a hen if you don't stop!'"

The two remained at odds for about a decade, but they eventually made up and rekindled their friendship. Parton was at Wagoner's bedside when he died last year.

The musical '9 to 5' recently finished its run in Los Angeles and will make the cross-country trek to Broadway in April 2009.

All the AOL Music info you want to know

50 Cent, Street King: Rapper Visits…

The Boombox

AP Photo/World Food Programme, Rose Ogola NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Rapper 50 Cent…

Grammy Acceptance Speeches: Watch 30…

AOL Music Blog

FilmMagic, Getty, WireImage It's been a busy week for God. Besides helping…

Earl Sweatshirt Returns, Releases New…

The Boombox

YouTube.com Ironically, Earl Sweatshirt was one of the most visible members…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

169 Comments

Filter by:
pookie1954

Porter was definitely gay. My band opened for him in the early 90s and his band openly told us he likes males.

January 23 2010 at 1:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ramiro Ruiz

I think she has good songs.

November 16 2008 at 4:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jesse Brown

I couldn't stand Porter Wagoner. I didn't like the way he acted... even as a kid I could tell he was a bigot. He treated Dolly like he was jealous of her and I really think he was cuz she had and has real talent. It isn't very often that women will choose another woman over a man... but this was my first case in point. My parents thought he walked on water. For me he was in the same class as Buck Owens. None.

November 10 2008 at 10:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
huntrcarol

Dolly, you're a class act all the way!! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!

Thanks for sharing your gifts with us. Music, songs, love of life, sparkle, and smiles!!

November 09 2008 at 9:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
pelleas2000

Porter was a pig but so was Thomas Jefferson. My point is that behavior that we find objectionable today was quite accepted and the norm in the past. It does not excuse it but it may help us understand. Hey watch Mad Men on AMC. BTW I hated when Porter referred to Dolly as his "girl singer." Porter tried to replace Dolly after she left. I don't think that worked out, but really who could replace Dolly?

November 07 2008 at 11:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rlcphd

Anyone who saw American Idol last season knows what a fabulous song writer and teacher Dolly is along with being a great performer. While many think Whitney Houston's rendition of, "I Will Always Love You" is towering, for sheer soulfulness Dolly's version of her own song adds meaning to the song. Now that I know who it was about, it says even more.

November 07 2008 at 10:12 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
spirit339a

You missed the point, women are in the military NOW and your comment about women dying during chid birth, they chose to get pregnant. I am saying men HAVE the right to complain, they are the ones who have fought for it, not women. Things are different now, and women are sacrifices now for our freedom, but not much before.

November 06 2008 at 10:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
paula

We saw Dolly this year at Humphreys in San Diego and she was awesome. I have always loved her honesty and down to earth opinions. She is one of our country music Icons and we should all get at least one chance to see her in concert. God Bless you Dolly!!

paula

November 06 2008 at 9:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ibehoney2u

well.. Dolly already knows that the media is going to blow things outta porportion..So why say anything? Say it when it can be streamed and in context. And if this was part of her beginnings well everybody puts up with sh** .. I think she paid a small price for her fame .she herself admitted she didnt take his B.S. , well all I can say its like her Diva era ,, oh poor Dolly! (not) maybe all the silicone is going to her brain,,she knows the business..He taught her ,, Why wouldnt he have control over his show.,the people he employed on his show ,, shes on a pity trip ,, no pity here from me

November 06 2008 at 7:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kim

I absolutely LOVE Dolly and so does my 11 year old daughter! She is an inspiration to young girls and women everywhere. She has more class in her pinky than you will ever manage to come up with. So stopping saying hateful things about cosmetic surgery. She's admitted she's had it she's not making any excuses and she doesn't have to. She looks better than she ever has. You are jealous and you will never be half the woman she is.

November 06 2008 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply