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'I Will Always Love You' is an iconic love ballad that has been popular for decades - but whose song is it actually?
I went to see Priscilla when it first came out and fell in love with the soundtrack. There are no Elvis songs in the movie (at least none that I remember) and while I at first thought that would be impossible, I found the soundtrack to the film to be actually really perfect.
I thought the movie did a great job showing Priscilla's perspective being a young girl at Graceland in love with an American icon. It really showcased her loneliness, isolation, and yearning to be loved.
If you watched the movie, you might have also noticed that the very last song that plays is 'I Will Always Love You'. Some of you probably were wondering why Dolly Parton was singing Whitney Houston's song. Well - it's actually Dolly's song!
Today, we'll break down the origins of one of the most recognizable love ballads of all time.
Although Whitney Houston's version of the song became widely popular in the 90s, not many people know that Dolly Parton wrote and recorded 'I Will Always Love You' in 1973. It was popular on the Billboard Hot Country chart in 1974 and again with her own re-recording of the song in 1982.
Yes, Dolly Parton wrote 'I Will Always Love You' as a farewell to her co-star of seven years, Porter Wagoner.
She actually claims that she wrote the song the same day as her smash hit 'Jolene'.
In 1992, Whitney Houston was looking for songs to record for the soundtrack of her upcoming film The Bodyguard. She was originally going to record a different song, but it was going to be on another film's soundtrack so she decided against it. Her co-star Kevin Costner played her Linda Ronstadt's 1975 version of 'I Will Always Love You' and she decided with her producer David Foster to turn it into a soul ballad.
Dolly Parton herself called David Foster and provided them with another verse she had written for the song.
Whitney Houston's version of the song has sold over 22 million copies and is considered the best selling single by a female artist of all time.
'I Will Always Love You' has been sung by Linda Ronstadt, John Doe, Amber Riley, Sarah Washington, and LeAnn Rimes.
Dolly has stated that Priscilla told her that Elvis sang 'I Will Always Love You' to her on the day of their divorce.
In 1974, Elvis expressed interest in recording the song. Dolly explains that she was so excited to have Elvis record her song, but at the time Colonel Parker stated that she would have to give up 50% of her publishing rights. Something inside her told her to say no and she was devastated about it.
Years later, when Whitney Houston recorded the song, Dolly made "enough money to buy Graceland".
If I should stay
Well I would only be in your way
And so I'll go, and yet I know
I'll think of you each step of the way
And I will always love you
I will always love you
Bitter-sweet memories
That's all I'm taking with me
Good-bye, please don't cry
'Cause we both know that I'm not
What you need
But I will always love you
I will always love you
And I hope life, will treat you kind
And I hope that you have all
That you ever dreamed of
Oh I do wish you joy
And I wish you happiness
But above all this
I wish you love
I love you
I will always love you
I, I will always, always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
I will always love you
Dolly wrote 'I Will Always Love You' in 1973. The song was released originally in 1974.
Yes. Since Dolly Parton owned 100% of the publishing rights and copyright to the song, she made a lot of money off of Whitney Houston's version. It has been reported that she made over $10 million from royalties via the song.
Yes. Dolly Parton is the only song writing credit on 'I Will Always Love You' and she performed on the original recording.
Did you guys know that 'I Will Always Love You' was Dolly Parton's song? I think it's pretty cool that Whitney's version of the song was a totally different genre and that it was still a massive hit!
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