‘Porter & Dolly’: The Bittersweet Final Chapter of a Country Music Power Duo

When Porter & Dolly was released on August 4, 1980, by RCA Victor, it marked the end of an era in country music — the final collaborative studio album between Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton, one of the most beloved and successful duos in the genre’s history. But behind the album’s polished sound and chart success lay years of creative triumphs, personal tensions, and a legal battle that nearly overshadowed their musical legacy.

The album itself was composed entirely of previously unreleased material recorded between 1967 and 1976, during the height of their partnership on The Porter Wagoner Show and their string of hit duets. To make it suitable for a 1980 release, RCA added new studio overdubs, giving the old sessions a fresh sheen. Two singles emerged from the project: “Making Plans,” which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and “If You Go, I’ll Follow You,” which reached No. 12.

The release was not merely a nostalgic gesture — it was part of a settlement from a lawsuit Wagoner filed against Parton after she left his band and television series in 1974 to pursue her solo career. The split had been painful for both, despite their shared love for the music they made together.

Their history was rich with both harmony and conflict. The duo had recorded timeless tracks such as “Here Comes the Freedom Train” in 1973 for a bicentennial project, and Wagoner had even encouraged Parton to expand her songwriting beyond her Appalachian roots. It was during this period that she penned “I Will Always Love You” — a heartfelt farewell written in one night, alongside “Jolene.” Parton later recalled the moment: “I was having so much trouble leaving Porter’s show… We didn’t get along very well, but we loved each other, too. I thought the only way he’d understand was if I wrote a song.”

When she played it for him the next day, Wagoner agreed to let her go — but insisted he produce the track. Their final live performance together came in June 1974, though Wagoner continued to work on her albums until 1976’s All I Can Do.

The relationship soured further in March 1979 when Wagoner filed a $3 million lawsuit alleging breach of contract and seeking a share of Parton’s income and royalties. The matter was eventually settled out of court, with Parton later admitting, “It took me a while to pay it off, but he got the first million dollars I ever made.”

By late 1979, rumors swirled that the two might reunite in the studio. The truth was more complicated. Porter & Dolly was assembled from past recordings, overdubbed without the two ever meeting face-to-face. Even the cover photo was a composite of separate images. Despite this, the album served as both a closing statement and a reminder of the undeniable chemistry that had propelled them to stardom.

Decades later, their work together remains a cornerstone of classic country. In 2014, Bear Family Records released Just Between You and Me: The Complete Recordings, 1967–1976, preserving their original masters without the 1980 overdubs — a pure document of their musical partnership.

Porter Wagoner, born August 12, 1927, in West Plains, Missouri, passed away on October 28, 2007, in Nashville. Dolly Parton has often paid tribute to him, both in interviews and in song, remembering not just the creative highs but the complicated, human story behind them.

In many ways, Porter & Dolly is more than just a collection of songs. It is the final echo of a partnership that defined an era — a blend of harmony and heartbreak, business and friendship, and the enduring power of two voices that, together, could make country music soar.