DOLLY PARTON - PARTON: 'I HAD MY HAND ON WAGONER'S HEART'

DOLLY PARTON has dismissed reports she and mentor PORTER WAGONER were estranged when he died late last year (Oct07), insisting she was at his bedside. Country music legend Wagoner discovered Parton, duetted with her and reportedly romanced her, but then sued her when she dumped him to go solo. But Parton insists their spat was short-lived and they were best friends to the end. She says, "I was with Porter the day he died. We sang and cried and I sat and held Porter's hand. "I had my hand on his heart 'cause it was just flyin'. I knew it wasn't long. He died at eight that night. It was like losin' a piece of me, like losin' your daddy." Wagoner passed away at a hospice facility in Nashville, Tennessee after a battle with lung cancer. He was 80.