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56 Years Ago, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner Released an Album Featuring a Grammy-Nominated Tribute to Her Grandfather
On 3 August 1970, country stars Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner released their fifth duets album, Once More, which reached No. 7 on the Billboard country albums chart. The record's only single, "Daddy Was an Old-Time Preacher Man," also peaked at No. 7 and holds particular significance as a personal tribute Parton co-wrote with her aunt, Dorothy Jo Hope, about her maternal grandfather, a Pentecostal minister. The pairing followed years of the two performing together weekly on The Porter Wagoner Show, a partnership that began when Wagoner unexpectedly recruited Parton as his "girl singer" after her predecessor, Norma Jean, departed.
The album's title track aside, other songs featured included "I Know You're Married, But I Love You Still," "Before Our Weakness Gets Too Strong" and "Let's Live for Tonight," reflecting a mix of personal and conventional country themes. Parton has recalled being surprised by Wagoner's job offer, having initially planned to remain solely a staff songwriter at Combine Music; Wagoner instead helped secure her a recording deal with RCA. Their professional collaboration lasted seven years and produced numerous duet recordings before Parton went on to pursue a solo career.
In short
- Parton and Wagoner released duets album Once More on 3 August 1970.
- Single "Daddy Was an Old-Time Preacher Man" honoured Parton's preacher grandfather.
- Both album and single peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's country chart.
Explained simply
Dolly Parton was a country singer and songwriter who joined Porter Wagoner’s television programme after his previous regular singer, Norma Jean, left. Their weekly performances led to a recording partnership, and Wagoner helped Parton secure a deal with RCA Records. They made several duet albums together before Parton pursued a solo career.
Once More was one of those albums, released in 1970. Its songs ranged from familiar country themes to a personal tribute Parton wrote with her aunt, Dorothy Jo Hope, about Parton’s maternal grandfather, who was a Pentecostal minister. The album and its single, “Daddy Was an Old-Time Preacher Man,” both reached No. 7 on the Billboard country charts.
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