The night Dolly came to Albany

Not long after Dolly Parton began her career, she and her then-singing partner, Porter Wagoner, came to Albany and performed at the Clinton County Fair. The date was July 24, 1973. At the time, they were one of the most heavily-booked acts operating out of Nashville.

By July 1973, Dolly had already become one of the most success­ful songwriters In Nashville. She and Porter came to Albany because, at the time, Porter was concentrating their shows in the smaller, more rural areas of the country in order to bring their music to people who would not ordinari­ly have a chance to see them. Accompanying them to Albany was comedian Speck Rhodes, who was known for his missing front teeth and his bright and colorful wardrobe, and the famous Wagonmasters band.

At the fair, Dolly sang, "Coat of Many Colors," which was already massively popular. She also sang her first #1 hit, "Joshua." Her song, "Jolene," would be released almost three months later. That night Porter and Dolly sang all their hit duets, like "If Teardrops Were Pennies" and Daddy was an Old time Preacher Man." It was a most memorable occasion, a great night to be at the Clinton County Fair and WANY broadcast it live on the air!

Dolly gained a national audience of millions of viewers by virtue of that TV show and one year after appearing at the Clinton County Fair she split from Porter in order to expand her career as a solo artist. Coming soon would be her massive hit, "I Will Always Love You," a song she wrote on the very bus that brought her to Albany fifty-three years ago. She dedicated it to Porter. The rest of the story you know.