syndicated television program, The Porter Wagoner Show, aired from 1960 to 1981. There were 686 30-minute episodes taped, the first 104 (1960–66) in black-and-white and the remainder (1966–81) in color. At its peak, his show was featured in over 100 markets, with an average viewership of over three million. Reruns of the program air on the rural cable network RFD-TV and its sister channel in the UK Rural TV.The shows usually featured opening performances by Wagoner with performances by Norma Jean, or later Dolly Parton, and comedic interludes by Speck Rhodes. During Parton's tenure, she and Wagoner usually sang a duet. Each episode also featured a guest who would usually perform one or two songs. A spiritual or gospel performance was almost always featured toward the end of the show, generally performed by either Wagoner or Parton or the show's guest star, or occasionally the entire cast. After Parton left the show, Porter began taping the show at Opryland USA in various locations around the park. The shows had a friendly, informal feel, with Wagoner trading jokes with band members (frequently during songs) and exchanging banter with Dolly Parton and Don Howser. In 1974, Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You", written about her professional break from Wagoner, went to number one on the country music chart. Wagoner's stage alter ego was Skid Row Joe. The cast included: Singer Norma Jean (1960–1965) Singer Jeannie Seely (1965–1966) Singer Dolly Parton (1967–1974) Singer Barbara Lea (1974–1976) Singer Linda Carol Moore (1976–1978) Singer Mel Tillis (1968 regular) Comedian/stand-up bass Curly Harris (1960–mid 1960s) Announcer Don Howser The Wagonmasters 1961 Don Warden on steel guitar "Little" Jack Little on fiddle Benny Williams on banjo and guitar (1961) Speck Rhodes Comedian/stand-up bass Mid 1960s Buck Trent on banjo and guitar George McCormick on rhythm guitar Mack Magaha on fiddle Ray Downs on rhythm guitar and vocal Michael Treadwell on bass guitar Shannon Randolph Porter on lead guitar After 1974 Bruce Osborn on lead guitar Fred Newell on banjo/guitar/mandolin Dave Kirby on guitar Stu Basore on steel guitar/dobro Bobby Dyson on bass Jerry Carrigan on drums Mack Magaha on fiddle Colene Walters on vocals/harmonica Mike Pearson on lead guitar Later work Wagoner brought James Brown to the Grand Ole Opry, produced a rhythm & blues album for Joe Simon, and appeared in the Clint Eastwood film Honkytonk Man. During the mid 1980s, Wagoner formed an