Let me tell you a story about a tough decision made by one of music's greatest legends, Dolly Parton. Now, Dolly's had a career filled with incredible moments, but one of the hardest choices she ever made was turning down an offer from the King of Rock 'n' Roll himself, Elvis Presley. Can you believe it? Back in the day, Elvis wanted to sing her timeless hit, "I Will Always Love You." But here's the kicker—he wanted half of the song's publishing rights in exchange. That's when Dolly had to take a deep breath and say no, even though she admired Elvis so much.
Why Dolly Said No
Now, you might be wondering why Dolly would turn down such an iconic artist. Well, as she explained to Billboard, it wasn't an easy choice. "That was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, because I loved Elvis," she admitted. But here's the thing—Dolly knew how important "I Will Always Love You" was to her career. At that point, it was her most significant copyright, and giving up half of it just didn't feel right. If it had been a newer song, maybe she would have considered it, but this was different. This song meant everything to her.
Whitney Houston's Version
Fast forward to the '90s, when Whitney Houston brought the song to life in a whole new way for her movie The Bodyguard. When Whitney recorded "I Will Always Love You," it skyrocketed to the top of the charts, staying there for an impressive 14 weeks. It set a record at the time on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and took Dolly's career to even greater heights. Imagine that—Dolly's decision not only protected her rights but also paved the way for one of the most iconic songs in music history.
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Family Wisdom
When it came to making that tough call, Dolly leaned on the wisdom of her father. Even though he didn't have formal education, he was a smart man when it came to making deals. "Even though my daddy didn’t get an education, my daddy was really smart in making deals and bargaining and how he raised a family like he did," Dolly shared. His advice helped her navigate that challenging situation with confidence.
Because of her decision, Dolly received a plaque from Broadcast Music Inc. recognizing "I Will Always Love You" as one of their most-performed songs. BMI's president and CEO, Mike O’Neill, praised her saying, "Dolly’s career is extraordinary. She is, of course, an incredible performer, actor, philanthropist and businessperson, but for us, it all starts with her songwriting. She tells stories in her songs like no one else can, transcending genres and connecting with her millions of fans. Dolly’s lyrics and music, authenticity, strength, and humor are all extraordinary gifts she has shared with the world."
