Porter Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an influential American country music singer, songwriter, and television host from West Plains, Missouri. Born into a farming family in the Ozarks, he began performing early, signing with RCA Records in 1952 and scoring hits like "A Satisfied Mind" (1955). Known for his flashy rhinestone Nudie suits and blond pompadour hairstyle, he hosted the syndicated The Porter Wagoner Show from 1960 to 1981, which reached millions and launched careers. In 1967, he introduced Dolly Parton as his duet partner, leading to numerous Top 10 hits (including the #1 "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" in 1974); their partnership ended acrimoniously in 1974 but they later reconciled. A Grand Ole Opry member from 1957, he charted 81 singles and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002. He died of lung cancer in 2007 at age 80.
