Although Parton struggled at first, she wrote several successful songs for other artists, finally scoring two hits of her own in 1967 with “Dumb Blonde
” and “Something Fishy.
” Parton's songs exhibited a maturity that placed them above standard Nashville fare, tackling darker issues with frankness and grace.
Country star Porter Wagoner needed a female foil for his road show and television program, and he recruited Parton to fill the slot. By joining Wagoner, Parton gained an...