October 30, 2007

 

Opry loses a legend

Porter Wagoner, the rhinestone-encrusted personification of Nashville tradition, host of the longest-running country-music variety show in TV history and mentor to Dolly Parton, died Sunday night of lung cancer. He was 80. Wagoner was hospitalized earlier this month, diagnosed with cancer.He was released from the hospital Friday and transferred to hospice care.
Country singer and fellow Opry member Dierks Bentley visited Wagoner in the hospice over the weekend and said Wagoner led them in prayer, thanking God for his friends and family. Dolly Parton also visited her old duet partner over the weekend. She told reporters that she feels like a part of her died along with her Wagoner.But Parton says she was grateful that she was able to spend a few final hours with the man who launched her career before he succumbed to cancer Sunday.
Wagoner had a streak of hits in the 1960s and '70s, and enjoyed a comeback in recent months. His final album, "Wagonmaster," produced with Marty Stuart, was released in June 2007 and earned Wagoner some of the best reviews of his career. Over the summer, he was the opening act for the influential rock duo White Stripes at a sold-out show at New York's Madison Square Garden.

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