This was written by Dolly as a farewell to her long time singing partner Porter Wagoner as she decided to pursue a solo career, despite his wishes to continue as a duo. She didn't want him to be sad or mad as he had helped her a lot on her way. She wanted to follow her dreams and the break up was nothing to do with her love for him and what he did for her. Such a beautiful song.

Somebody commented : "Whitney sang to the world, but Dolly sang to you."

She left the Porter Wagner show after 5 years, she kept telling him she wanted to go solo, he didn't "hear her" so she wrote him this song. So, he let her leave, then sued her. But later in life when he was destitute, and had to sell the rights to all of his songs, she bought them back and gave them to him, and at his death bead Dolly was there.

This song was not written for a romantic relationship, it was written for loss of a professional relationship. Porter Wagner was a partner, a mentor, and a great supporter of Dolly's career. She had decided to pursue a solo career and wanted to end her partnership with Porter on a good place, and to let him know that she would always love him. Dolly's husband has always supported her career, but never wanted to be in the spotlight, she always respected and supported that too.

Whitney's version leaves you breathless at the beauty of her voice. Dolly's version leaves you crying at the raw emotion.

In the movie, Dolly's version is played on the jukebox when Kevin and Whitney were in a bar dancing. And Dolly is the GOAT!!!

Dolly has written over 5,000 songs. 700+ of them have charted - Including 198 solo singles, 49 featured artist singles, 6 promotional singles, and 70+ music videos.

You guys really need to stop being bitter and assuming the worst, those were different times! Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” as a farewell to her long-time mentor and collaborator, Porter Wagoner. The split came when she decided to pursue a solo career and separate from him in a professional capacity

Dolly actually wrote this song in 1973 for her one-time business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, who she was separating from professionally after a seven-year singing partnership. Btw, Elvis wanted to record this song and Dolly was very flattered about this until Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker demanded that, as "standard procedure", Dolly had to sign over half of the publishing rights to any song Elvis recorded. Dolly refused and Elvis did not record the song. Dolly was so upset that she "cried all night."

Kids, . . . this song is NOT about a romantic breakup.

Dolly is having a private conversation with someone important. Whitney was announcing something to the world. Same song - two interpretations.

Dolly turned 78 in January and she has been married to Carl Dean since 1966 -- 58 years. Dolly wrote this song and another one in one evening and presented it to her boss, Porter Wagoner as she was leaving his show. She has written thousands of songs and is queen of country. She is an entrepreneur, an actor, director, producer, song-writer and singer. She grew up dirt poor with 6 brothers and 5 sisters. She is very charitable in the area she grew up in the Tennessee mountains. When asked what she thought about Whitney's cover of the song, she said that song put money in the bank for me. When Whitney covered it, I bought the bank!

She's not just a great singer but a great person with an awesome sense of humour. She wasn't in love with Porter Waggoner, she was breaking off her contract with him so she could be independent against his wishes, but letting him know there was no hard feelings.

The song “Jolene” is about a hot bank teller that Dolly was afraid would steal her husband. I can only imagine how smokin that teller must’ve been for Dolly to be threatened.

Dolly LOVED Whitney’s version. She’s written thousands of songs.

This was not a farewell song for a lover but a farewell song for a very close and special friend.

Dolly Parton was a legitimate child prodigy. By the age of ten she was playing her guitar and singing on radio and television in East Tennessee. She first appeared at the Grand Ole Opry at age 13. After high school she moved to Nashville and initially found success writing songs for others. As she began recording her own songs, she was invited to join a popular country entertainer named Porter Wagoner on his television show and tours. Over the next six or seven years, they had many successful duets on the country music charts. By 1974, at age 28, Dolly wanted to focus on her solo career, and she left her partnership with Wagoner. “I Will Always Love You” is not about a broken romance, but is Dolly's tribute to Wagoner for the significant role he had played in her early career.

Dolly had a #1 with it. 10 years later it was on the soundtrack of a movie starring Dolly & Burt Reynolds and it was #1 again. Dolly said she went to the bank on this song and when Whitney had her international hit with it, Dolly joked, "I bought the bank". The "dude" was her mentor Porter Wagoner. She was leaving him to go out on her own.

There will never be another Dolly, how sad that is. She is a walking legend.

This was not about the end of a romantic relationship. It was her good bye to mentor Porter Wagner who’s tv show she performed on as a regular and was under contract with. It was about her spreading her wings and flying away and his difficulty with accepting that. This was her peace offering.

She is a prolific song writer. The same night she wrote this song, she also wrote "Jolene!"

Legend has it, Dolly wrote this song and “Jolene” in the same night. She remarked in an interview about it “It was a good night for music.” ❤❤❤

I like Dolly’s version ten fold better than Whitney’s. No sleight to Whitney, she did great. Dolly’s version is just raw and beautiful.

Dolly is a masterful songwriter! I love her voice! More Dolly please! ❤️‍🔥✌🏻

Dolly is a national treasure.❤️

Dolly is just sitting there and hitting those notes with ZERO effort. Thats the craziest thing, imagine if she stood up and actually put her back into it

Ms. Dolly said the first time she heard Whitney's rendition of her song it blew her away. She loved Whitney's version. Ms. Dolly has written more than a hundred songs not only recorded by herself but some of the biggest stars in music today. She built Dolly Wood in Sevierville, Tn, has given away millions on causes she believes in. I could go for hours on the ways Ms. Dolly has given back to the world and has remained humble kind and grateful for the life she has. She also has a great sense of humor.

Don, don't delete your life. Archive them online, a usb or in a box in real life. Someday you will look at them and not be sad and happy you have them to remember the time. I'm old, I just went through THOUSANDS of photos doing 'Swedish Death Cleaning" this week and I was so happy to be reminded of things I thought I never wanted to think about again because decades later I could appreciate the lessons and good times.

She is an amazing person. For every child in the US under the age of 5, she will send them one book every month. She started Dollywood just to bring jobs for people living in the rural area she came from. She gave a million dollars during the pandemic for the development of the vaccines. She has done so much for decades. No one can ever say she has not given back. She started out extremely poor in a family of 12 kids living in a cabin in the Tennessee mountains.

We all know Dolly and Kenny Rogers loved each other but they respected each other's relationships. Beautiful, talented people.

It was her friend (Porter Wagner) that had a tv show and helped her start her career, but he would not let her go. She needed to leave and he wouldn't let her go and sued her for leaving but she still considered him a friend and his family like her family and took care of them later in life because she was grateful to him. She truly has a beautiful soul and such talent! Dolly obviously went on to have an amazing career and is still writing and singing and touring sometimes but her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2019 so she is taking a break to care for him.

Dolly always has that teardrop in her voice that always gets me

She wrote it for Porter Waggoner when she went solo and she sang it at his funeral.

Its not what you thought.. its a well known story about porter Wagoner who's show she was on.. and after 5 years, she wanted to leave, and he didn't want to let her. She was married and still is married, song has nothing to do with a romantic relationship.

She wrote and sang this when she was leaving the Porter Wagner show to go off on her own She explained it on show.

I am a birthmother, and as I put my newborn in the arms of his adoptive parents, I sang this song, in Dolly's style, to my son. To this day, 23 rs later, I cannot hear this without getting teary-eyed and weepy

Written in one day. When you know you know. It doesn’t take forever to say what you feel. Just say it.

If you go down the Dolly road, and want another one that gets into the feels, Hard Candy Christmas is high on the list.

Her husband is Carl Dean and stays out of the spotlight. Despite her chemistry with Kenny Rogers, she and Carl have a very strong and long-lasting marriage.

Awww I love me some Dolly...she sang this song in the movie - "The best little whore house in Texas" lol

You could've also Googled who she wrote the song about. It was written to Porter Waggoner who she was under contract to professionally. She was ready to fly and go solo. This was her goodbye to him. It fractured their relationship but they eventually made amends.

Now do "9 to 5". Fun song and the typewriter backbeat will befuddle anyone born after 1990. 😂

Dolly is a legend: a smart businesswoman and a genuinely good person. She does a lot for poor and marginalized communities. She’s done some great covers of rock songs and an album of new material. She has a duet with Rob Halford of Judas Priest that’s amazing!

Dolly Parton invested her royalties from Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You" into Black community projects in Nashville. A woman of pure class.

Funny the man she wrote it for was not a lover but a dear friend. Porter Wagner and her toured together and she went solo. She gave him money and help him when he got older and did right by him. She met her husband the first day she got to Nashville and they were together for decades. He owned his own business and still worked and supported her doing what she wanted to do.

This video is from The Porter Wagoner Show where she was "the girl singer." The song is written to Porter, host of the show, who was angry that she was leaving to go solo.

Country music singer-songwriter Dolly Parton wrote the song in 1973 for her one-time partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, from whom she was separating professionally after a seven-year partnership. She recorded it in RCA Studio B in Nashville on June 12, 1973.

She wrote this and " Jolene " on the same day. And yes, it was written for her singing duo partner Porter Wagner. She wanted to break out on her own and he wasn't too cool about it. She was letting him know that she needed to take her career in a different direction, but that didn't change her friendship with him.

Dolly's got a ton of hits to mine. Coat of Many Colors is a good one. Dolly gifted Whitney with this when she heard it. She said Whitney's is better just like Nine Inch Nails did with Hurt

This was her song to Porter Wagoner, telling him she was leaving his show. She had tried to leave a couple of times before and he always made offers that kept her. She knew by this time that she had a strong chance as a solo artist and she was leaving for good. She was not inn love with porter, but she loved him and owed him a lot and made sure there were no hard feeling between them. Carl Dean and Dolly were from the same area in Tennessee and met at a laundromat in Nashville her first day there. She was raised in dire poverty (listen to her song "Coat of Many Colors") In a cabin near Sevierville, Tennessee. She was one of 11 children raised in a one room cabin by strict religious parents. back in those days, it was mostly poor Scot-Irish mountain people living there. You had to go over the mountain to see Cherokee and in some places of the Appalachians you might find a very poor black family. My people having come from there, I know it was a hard life. Probably not a mans book, but if you can, read the book Christy. it is very enlightening as to how the white people lived in those days. We were beyond pitiful. She felt comfortable with Carl Dean, he was like her people.

please do Dolly Parton coat of many color this song is about true story

To me this is and will always be Dolly's song. Idc what anyone says. Dolly touches your soul

Big thumbs up for Dolly! I've always liked her songs. Whitney did great with this one. Surprised me when I began hearing how many people didn't know Dolly wrote this. Both lovely ladies blessed with amazing talent.

Whitney sang this song the way the producer told her to. Dolly, who wrote the song, performed it the way she wanted it heard

I've tried singing this song, but I always choke up with tears at the Bittersweet memories and it's not always about the people that have come and gone in my life but the beloved pets I've said goodbye to at the end of their lives. Darn it... now my mind is going through every family member and pet that has gone home before me. I love them all.

The first time Dolly heard the Whitney Houston version was on her car radio. She had to park the car and get out so she could jump up and down and shout - she liked Whitney's version that much (of course the fact that it made her a ton of money could have something to do with it).

Sorry, all you Whitney fans, but I'll ALWAYS love the way Dolly sings her song. (I'm sure Dolly was happy that Whitney had such a big hit.)

I never cared for Whitney's version, it seemed she was shouting "I will always love you" when she sang, and I grew up listening to Dolly's version, and it seemed so heartfelt and genuine, and if someone shouted those 5 words to me the way Whitney does would probably scare me more than anything.

Only Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris have been gifted with pure angelic voices from the heavens.

Dolly wrote this song as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing to him her decision to pursue a solo career, He was very upset about her wanting to leave his show and she wanted him to know she didn’t want any hard feelings and how much she cared and appreciated their friendship.

Lol BP your are a player through and through….. that baby girl and your misses will change your perspective. Dolly’s love was to Porter Wagner who hired her for his show. He taught her many things but didn’t want her to spread her wings professionally. This was her way to say Thank you, you hugely impacted my life and I will always love you because of it. Dolly is hard working, very business savvy and extremely generous.

When Dolly debuted this song, it was on the Porter Waggoner Show. The song was written for Porter Waggoner, her mentor that she was leaving to pursue a solo career. This version is not the debut. In the debut, she is literally singing it to the person she wrote it for.

This is for Porter Wagoner. She very much loves her husband. Not everyone cheats guys

She was on The Porter Wagoner Show as a young girl and they parted ways and she blew up....this song is supposed to be about him. He was famous for those sparkly western jackets...just a history lesson lol.

Thanks for delving into Dolly music...she is country icon!

I love both singers, but the emotion you can hear when Dolly sings is just so poignant. Her version will make me cry.

This song was included in the musical film "Best Little Whorehouse in Texes". Perfect sad ending song. She played and sang in the the movie and her love interest was Burt Reynolds. First time I heard it was then. Best version for sure. A great respectful thoughtful review, as always

Whitney's cover was a big production for the world. When Dolly sings it, it's close and personal and intimate.

Dolly wrote and sang this for a friend/business partner/coworker. Whitney sang for a lover. Two different audiences and no real comparison since they have different meanings. Also, as the original creator/performer it’s her song not her version.

And of course, the legendary Dolly song, "Jolene". Famously covered by many including "The White Stripes", and now Beyoncé as a centerpiece to her "Cowboy Carter" album. Beyoncé's take on the song is quite different from Dolly's original. 🙂

Dolly Parton is a better person than either of us. 🙂 I believe that she really is that gracious. She's amazing! Who doesn't love Dolly Parton?

Don was actually pretry spot on with his interpretation, it was not written for a romantic relationship but a professional one , she wrote it for porter wagner who she was part of a duo with and wanted to go solo and he didn't want her to

Dolly once said, " she bought the Bank " when Whitney recorded it!!!!!

Y’all should check out the song she wrote for her induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame

Dolly's musicality and voice is amazing. It's like what a fine character actor does with seemingly simple and short lines, adding so much depth to the words.

I think we need about 60 more people to mention that she wrote this song as a farewell to Porter Wagoner. People might miss that info if it's only every other comment. 😅 This song is a great example of how performance/interpretation can take the same lyrics and melody in two very different directions. Whitney's cover is a power ballad. It's primarily an expression of her own emotions, which are mega-scale (ain't no mountain high enough). Dolly's rendition is intimate. Less about the mighty high-low of her own emotions than about conveying the message to that one person, as if he's sitting right in front of her as she sings. So cool how great singers co-create something unique.

Unpopular opinion; Dollys version is my favorite. I first heard it in one of my favorite movies Best Little Wh*rehouse in Texas. The studio version is magical

Porter helped Dolly and is a great singer too. She sang this song to Porter Wagner and her wanting to pursue a solo career, not to her husband Carl. Dolly has always been a lady of virtue!

You need to check the version of this she sang to Burt Reynolds at the end of "Best Little Whorehouse In Texas". It has all the feels of a great good bye song. She sings it with such emotion it's fricken AMAZEBALLS!!!!

She wrote this and Jolene the same night. Two incredible songs

Thank you Don!!! Yes the magic word "mature" ...you can use words in such a more meaningful and beautiful way with a little intelligence...

Dolly has the sweetest voice

This is why this will always be Dolly Parton’s song… again the emotion involved is just spot-on

Dude, I’m with you on the high road. It takes a measure of confidence to see someone you love off, and wish them well down the road. Dolly is a very kind person and she makes the world a better place just being in it.

This song she had written years before in 1973 then used in the 80s movie Dolly Parton starred in with Burt Reynolds called Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and she sang it to Burt Reynolds character in the movie. She has looooooooots of hit songs from the 60s to now mostly considered a country singer the most recent album she did she decided to do a rock album and redid some rock songs with rock artists, check that album out it rocks, songs like We Will Rock You and Stairway to Heaven are just two of the songs on her new rock album

Dolly sung the song to you, Whitney sang it to the world

If you watch "The Bodyguard" (Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston), when they are in the country bar and dancing together, Dolly's version is being played in the background on the jukebox.

There is a fascinating podcast called Dolly Parton’s America. All about Dolly and her history. It’s like 5 or 6 episodes. It talks about this song and how and why she wrote it. It’s actually a resignation letter to Porter Wagoner and her leaving the variety show. If you didn’t love Dolly before…. This will surely make you fall in love! She’s a great performer but she also writes most all of her own songs. She has more than 100 million record sales worldwide, 44 career top 10 country albums, she’s acted in like 5 or 6 movies, 11 Grammys, she’s in the country music hall of fame and was nominated for the rock & roll hall of fame. Dolly is a very inspiring individual!!!

She wrote Jolene the same night

So I was in the theater watching a preview to The Bodyguard. Whitney was singing this song. I kept wondering why I knew every word. ?? Then it hit me. I knew this from Dolly Parton. Great song more matter who sings. I always enjoy your reactions. ❤

Dudes their are more ways to love than romantic love!!! This was about a deep friendship. Porter Waggoner gave her the big break that her career was waiting for. She struggled with leaving, but didn’t want to just be the girl singer in Porter Waggoner’s band. She didn’t know how to tell him…and him think she was ungrateful…soooooo, SHE WROTE the song. Gettest thou minds out the GUTTER!!!!!

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 60th birthdays with a house concert. I’m proud to say my first love is coming, with his ex wife. And, the musicians playing include the other man I have loved. To me love is that feeling that you want them to live a happy life even if not with yourself. We need more love and less ego in this world.

Guys, people like to compare Whitney and Dolly singing this song. Don't bother. Both are great. Whitney was the powerful version; Dolly's is the soft version. BTW you should check out how many songs Dolly has written. It's in the hundreds. I grew up with Dolly but never knew how great she was.

US RCA Records Nashville re- serviced, the record several times to keep the attention on this record. Especially when Whitney covered the tune years later. The Dolly version has been on the Country charts a few times and RCA has re-mixed Dolly's hit as well. It's one of the most played country singles of all time.

Dolly Parton is the best country singer every. Everything she put out was great...she is an angel and a blessing to us all

You need to explore Dolly’s catalogue. She has written 3000 songs (no joke). Not all have been recorded but many have! She wrote this and Jolene in the same night! I love Dolly’s version. She sings it so sweetly where Whitney’s version is belted out!

Dolly said that after she did this song, she could afford to go to the bank and get a home loan. When Whitney did it, she could afford to buy the bank. But yeah, Porter Wagoner was the person this song was written for, and I think he was in the audience, but I don't know. I just....Dolly's performance hits the feels more. Just my take.

You are so wrong in many ways. And once again being disrespectful .

Dolly was a woman who had the total artistic talent of writing, composting, and singing her own music in a time where that was unheard of! Whitney had her own God given talent!! That Dolly paved the way for!! Thank you Dolly and Whitney ❤❤❤

Dolly is and will always be a legend ❤❤❤❤. One of my favorite female singers of all time. Thank you Dolly for always being real❤🎉❤