Country Music Star, Porter Wagoner, Dies

Porter Wagoner, a legend in the country music world, died yesterday in Nashville from lung cancer, reported USA Today. He was 80 years old. Most recently, he was known as the public face for the Grand Ole Opry radio show. He celebrated his 50th anniversary with the cast this past spring.

Wagoner was well known for his flashy, custom made suits, which were worth thousands of dollars. In 1960, he launched television's syndicated program "The Peter Wagoner Show," which at its peak, was the most important country music TV property of its time. He also had a long-standing personal and professional relationship with Dolly Parton, who wrote the song "I Will Always Love You" for him.

Wagoner was a three-time Grammy winner, as well as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Marty Stuart, who produced Wagoner's latest album, said of the record, "It's the kind of country that defined what real and true, pure, authentic country music is," and "man, is it a good one."