On this day—March 11, 1974—Dolly Parton released what would become one of the most iconic songs of all time: “I Will Always Love You.” It started as a heartfelt goodbye to her longtime mentor, Porter Wagoner, and ended up becoming a timeless ballad that would eventually circle the globe, thanks to a stunning reimagining by Whitney Houston nearly two decades later.
A Song Born from Goodbye
By the time Dolly released “I Will Always Love You,” she had already made a name for herself in country music. Her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, came out in 1967 and led to her big break on The Porter Wagoner Show. What followed was a seven-year partnership filled with duets, touring, and a fair amount of creative tension.
Dolly knew it was time to move on and pursue her solo career, but parting ways with Porter wasn’t easy. In a 2011 interview for CMT’s 40 Greatest Love Songs, she explained how the song came from a deeply emotional place.
“We were both stubborn and thought we knew what was best for me. He wasn’t listening, so I figured, ‘Do what you do best—write a song.’”
That song became her way of saying goodbye with grace. It wasn’t bitter—it was a thank you and a farewell all wrapped into one beautiful melody.
“It’s saying, ‘Just because I’m leaving doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I’ll always appreciate what you’ve done for me.’”
A Song That Stood the Test of Time
Dolly’s gamble paid off. “I Will Always Love You” topped the country charts in 1974 as part of her Jolene album. Then, in 1982, she re-recorded it for the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and it hit No. 1 again—making it one of the rare songs to top the same chart twice by the same artist.
But it was Whitney Houston’s breathtaking 1992 version, featured in The Bodyguard, that launched the song into the stratosphere. Whitney’s powerful vocals turned the quiet country ballad into a pop anthem. Her version spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earned Diamond certification, and became the best-selling single of all time by a solo female artist. It also earned her three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year.
A True Classic
What began as a personal goodbye between two artists became a universal anthem of love and letting go. Dolly once said it’s the song that’s brought her the most success—and perhaps the most healing. And 50 years later, “I Will Always Love You” continues to move hearts across generations, proving that great songs never fade—they just keep finding new voices to sing them.
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