Porter Wagoner Got as Heated as ‘the Fires of Hell’ When He Heard Bad Rumors About Dolly Parton

In their years of collaboration, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton grew to expect rumors about their relationship. While they both say they were only ever platonically involved, their chemistry had people thinking otherwise. Wagoner said he didn’t mind hearing rumors about himself, but when Parton was the subject, he got angry. 

Porter Wagoner couldn’t stand hearing bad rumors about Dolly Parton

Many of Wagoner and Parton’s duets were about romance, leading people to believe they were together. While Parton was married, she kept this relatively quiet. People assumed Wagoner was her husband. 

During a celebration of Dolly Parton Day in her hometown of Sevierville, Tennessee, Wagoner decided to clear things up. He told the crowd that he couldn’t stand hearing rumors about Parton.

“There’s been lots of stories about a love affair between Dolly and me, and I’d be lying to say that I don’t love her in many, many ways,” he said, per the book Smart Blonde by Stephen Miller. “But not in the ways the gossiping tongues will lead you to believe. To me she’s like a sister or daughter I love so well. When they say things about me, I don’t mind. But when they speak of her, I get hot and feel the fires of hell.”

This declaration didn’t do much to clear up misconceptions. When Wagoner and Parton ended their working relationship, many people asked her if they were also getting a divorce.