Country’s Legendary Duets

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesday, June 4, at 8 PM
Friday, June 7, at 3 AM
Saturday, June 8, at 8:30 PM
 

Take a look back at some of the great country music duet performers of all time. Join hosts Tre Twitty and Tayla Lynn (Conway Twitty's grandson & Loretta Lynn's granddaughter) for a walk down memory lane as they explore the musical partnerships and vocal harmonies that defined an era of country music.

COUNTRY'S LEGENDARY DUETS begins with the fruitful vocal match-up of singer/songwriter Dolly Parton and the blond-pompadoured Porter Wagoner. At 21 years old, Parton joined Wagoner’s TV show, beginning a musical partnership that earned them vocal duo of the year in 1970 and resulted in 20 hit singles throughout the early ’70s. From “The Right Combination” to “If Teardrops Were Pennies,” Parton and Wagoner’s chemistry was magical – catapulting the larger-than-life blond bombshell to stardom and reinvigorating the career of an ageing musician.  

Tre and Taylor then take a look at the musical dynamic that resulted from the mix of George Jones’ smooth baritone and Tammy Wynette’s emotional twang. Though Jones and Wynette married and divorced during their tumultuous personal relationship, they continued to work together professionally, recording nine duet albums together. From the heartfelt chart-topper “Golden Ring” to “We’re Not the Jet Set,” this performing duo knew that magic happened where their voices mixed together.  

Lastly, COUNTRY'S LEGENDARY DUETS looks back at the hit duets of country music icons Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty. From 1971-1981, this musical partnership produced 13 top-10 hits, including "Louisiana Women, Mississippi Man" and the Grammy-winning "After the Fire is Gone." With personal insights into the lives of these legendary singers from their grandchildren, viewers learn how these two singers made an unlikely partnership but forged a strong and enduring friendship.