The Phone Call That Changed Everything
The story of Dolly Parton’s rise to fame and success is nothing short of remarkable. From her humble beginnings in a one-room cabin in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee to becoming one of the best-selling female artists of all time, Parton’s career trajectory seemed almost pre-destined. But there was a pivotal moment, a single phone call, that helped propel her from being a talented but unknown singer-songwriter to a household name – and that call came from country music star Porter Wagoner.
Dolly Rebecca Parton was born on January 19, 1946 in Sevier County, Tennessee, the fourth of twelve children born to Robert Lee Parton and Avie Lee Owens Parton. She grew up in extreme poverty, often wearing clothes made from flour sacks, but music was always a big part of life in the Parton household. Dolly learned to play the guitar at a young age and began writing and performing her own songs as a teenager. By her late teens, she was performing locally in East Tennessee clubs and venues.
In 1964, at just 18 years old, Parton relocated to Nashville with hopes of breaking into the country music business. She landed her first recording contract with Monument Records and released a handful of singles, but none achieved much commercial success. Parton was struggling to gain traction and make a name for herself in the competitive Nashville scene. That’s where Porter Wagoner enters the story.
Wagoner was already a hugely popular country star by 1964. He had been hosting his syndicated television show, “The Porter Wagoner Show,” since 1961. The show featured Wagoner and his band performing songs along with guest stars and rising country artists. It was a major platform that helped launch the careers of many up-and-coming singers. Wagoner had heard Parton’s demos and seen her perform around Nashville – he was impressed by her songwriting talents and powerhouse vocals.
In the fall of 1964, Parton received “the call” from Porter Wagoner himself. He invited her to join his show as a regular performer and duet partner. This was an incredible opportunity for Parton – not only would she get national exposure through the television program, but she would gain invaluable experience performing in front of live audiences each week. Wagoner also offered to record and release duets with Parton, which would help get her songs and voice out to a wider audience. It was truly a career-making opportunity.
Parton eagerly accepted Wagoner’s offer. Her first appearance on “The Porter Wagoner Show” was in November 1964. Clad in her signature high heels and figure-hugging dresses, Parton immediately stood out with her magnetic stage presence and strong vocals. Audiences took notice of the young singer and her obvious charisma and talent. Her duets with Wagoner, including “The Last Thing on My Mind” and “Just Someone I Used to Know,” became big hits and further introduced Parton to country fans across America.
Over the next seven years, Parton remained a mainstay on Wagoner’s television program. She recorded over 25 albums with him for RCA Records, many of which charted in the top 10 on the country albums chart. Their duets helped bring out the best in both singers – Wagoner’s smooth baritone complimented Parton’s powerful soprano vocals. Songs like “Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man,” “Hold Me,” and “Please Don’t Stop Loving Me” became signature hits. Parton also scored major solo success with crossover singles like “Joshua” and “Coat of Many Colors.”
Being part of the Porter Wagoner show gave Parton the chance to hone her craft in front of live audiences on a weekly basis. It allowed her the opportunity to develop her unique stage presence and honky-tonk style. She learned invaluable lessons about showmanship, branding, and promotion from Wagoner. Most importantly, the exposure from the television program brought Parton’s talents to a national audience and helped turn her into a bonafide star. Her association with Wagoner was crucial in taking her career to the next level.
However, as Parton’s fame and success grew over the years, tensions began to emerge between her and Wagoner. Parton had evolved into a more pop-influenced style while Wagoner remained firmly rooted in traditional country music. She also longed for more creative freedom and control over her music and image. By the late 1960s, Parton was one of the biggest stars in country music in her own right. But she still felt constrained by her partnership with Wagoner on both a business and personal level.
The breaking point came in 1974. Parton’s album “Jolene” had just been released and the title track was rocketing up the charts. It was her first truly crossover pop hit and signified Parton was ready to fully branch out on her own. Meanwhile, Wagoner had grown increasingly jealous and possessive of Parton’s success. After much deliberation, Parton made the difficult decision to leave Wagoner’s show and record label to strike out as a fully independent artist. It was a bold move that shocked the country music world at the time.
In Parton’s autobiography, she said ending her partnership with Wagoner was “the most difficult professional thing I’ve ever done.” Wagoner was hurt and angry by her departure. But it allowed Parton the freedom to fully embrace her brand of feel-good, crossover pop-country music and pursue acting and film projects. Her first solo album post-Wagoner, 1975’s “Love Is Like a Butterfly,” cemented her status as not just a country star, but a mainstream pop phenomenon as well.
Looking back, that fateful phone call from Porter Wagoner in 1964 was truly the turning point that launched Dolly Parton’s superstardom. It gave a young, unknown singer national exposure at a pivotal time. Her years spent on Wagoner’s show allowed Parton to hone her skills as an entertainer before audiences of millions each week. The duets and recordings with Wagoner introduced her songwriting talents and voice to the world. And when she did finally leave his show in 1974, she did so as one of the biggest names in country music – paving the way for even greater success as a solo artist. That one phone call changed everything for Dolly Parton. It set her on the path to becoming nothing less than a living legend.