When Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” in 1973, she wasn’t writing about a romantic breakup. She was saying goodbye to her longtime friend, mentor, and business partner, Porter Wagoner. The song became a country hit, but its journey was only beginning.
Along the way, the song caught the attention of Elvis Presley, whose manager demanded half of the publishing rights before he would record it. Parton refused. Years later, actor Kevin Costner helped introduce the song to Whitney Houston for The Bodyguard, turning it into one of the best-selling singles in music history. Our own Lee Habeeb shares the remarkable story behind a song that transformed the lives of everyone who touched it.
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