Country music icon Porter Wagoner, who made a name for himself as one of the brightest stars of the Grand Ole Opry thanks to his music and rhinestone suits, died on Sunday from lung cancer. Wagoner was 80 and died in an Alive Hospice facility in Nashville. Wagoner had been a star of the Grand Ole Opry since 1957. His music career saw many successes including a Grammy, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and three Country Music Association awards – which were for songs with his duet partner Dolly Parton.
Parton and Wagoner teamed for 14 Top 10 hits – which included "Last Thing on My Mind" and "Please Don't Stop Loving Me." His solo career included hits "Company's Comin," "Green Green Grass of Home," and "Carroll County Accident."
Wagoner released a new studio album, ‘Wagonmaster,' last June. It was produced by fellow Opry singer Marty Stuart.
He was born in Howell County, Missouri, and grew up on a farm – where he reportedly listened to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio every Saturday night. He began his career on a radio show in Springfield, Missouri. He also performed on Red Foley's "Ozark Jubilee" in Springfield from 1953 to 1957. He also worked as a producer for RCA.
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