Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner began working together in 1967 and formed a very close professional relationship. They had such good chemistry on The Porter Wagoner Show and in their duets that many wondered if they were having an affair. Parton denied this, but she admitted that they fought like a married couple.
Wagoner was also extremely possessive over Parton. During an appearance on The Tonight Show , he didn’t allow anyone to ask her any questions. Porter Wagoner didn’t let Dolly Parton talk during an interview Part of the reason Wagoner hired Parton was for her image, and he wanted to make sure she kept up appearances.
He was “totally protective — both of her and of her image,” said Nashville agent Dolores Smiley in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash. He wouldn’t even allow her to appear on the cover of a magazine that included advertisements for clubs that served alcohol. The pair of them appeared on The Tonight Show in 1970, and Wagoner fielded every question.
He didn’t want Parton to answer anything. “I just sat on the panel and slung my foot, as usual,” she later said of the experience. When asked if Wagoner really was as possessive as people believed, Parton brushed off the question.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “It was a long time ago.” Rumors flew about the two of them Wagoner’s protective nature and chemistry with Parton led to endless rumors about an affair between the two of them.
Some believed that even if the rumors were not true,.