Elvis Wanted it, Whitney Made it Famous, but Dolly Owned Every Penny

In a tale as vibrant as a Tennessee sunset, Dolly Parton’s iconic song “I Will Always Love You” weathered lawsuits, a clash with Elvis Presley, and soared to global fame via Whitney Houston. 

The saga began when Parton, then a rising star on The Porter Wagoner Show, decided to part ways with her mentor. To ease the split, she penned the heartfelt ballad as a farewell. But Wagoner wasn’t soothed. He sued her. Undeterred, Parton released the song in 1974, and it shot to No. 1 on the country charts.

Enter Elvis Presley, the King himself, who wanted to record the track. Parton was ecstatic. Until his manager, Colonel Parker, demanded half the song’s publishing rights in perpetuity. Parton, fiercely protective of her work, declined. “I said, ‘No way, this is my song,’” she later recalled. Her gamble paid off.

Fast forward to 1992, when Whitney Houston’s powerhouse vocals transformed the song for The Bodyguard soundtrack. With Parton retaining full ownership, Houston’s version became a global phenomenon, topping charts worldwide and earning Parton millions in royalties. 

The song’s journey from a bittersweet goodbye to a chart-topping juggernaut cemented Parton’s legacy as a savvy songwriter and businesswoman. Today, “I Will Always Love You” remains a testament to her grit, heart, and unyielding love for her craft.