Why Elvis Never Recorded Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”

Long before Whitney Houston’s iconic re-recording, Dolly Parton’s 1974 hit “I Will Always Love You” was almost sung by someone else.

In a profile for W magazine, Parton, 75, revealed why Elvis Presley was also supposed to record the song.

Turns out the “9 to 5” actress met Presley’s manager to discuss the song, but her manager wanted half the publishing rights in exchange for the King of Rock and Roll to sing the song.

“I said, ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t give you the post,'” Parton told the post. “I wanted to hear Elvis sing it, and it broke my heart – I cried all night.”

She continued, “I had to keep this copyright in my pocket. You have to mind your own business! Everyone will use you if they can. These are my songs, they are like my children. And I expect them to support me when I’m old!

Although Presley never recorded the song, the record still held a special place in his heart. “Priscilla, Elvis’ wife, told me that when she and Elvis got divorced, Elvis sang my song to her,” Parton added. “It touched me deeply.”

Priscilla and Elvis married in 1967 and divorced in 1973. The “Love Me Tender” actor died in 1977 at the age of 42 from heart disease.

Of course, Whitney Houston recorded “I Will Always Love You” in 1992 for her romantic drama “The Bodyguard”, much to Parton’s delight. Last year, she told Oprah that after hearing it for the first time, she had to stop the car she was driving so as not to run over it.

Parton then referred to Houston, who died in 2012, during her interview with W. “They also played [‘I Will Always Love You’] at Whitney Houston’s funeral, ”she said. “After that I thought, I bet they’ll play the same song when I go.”

Miley Cyrus’ godmother also looked back on her long and successful career and revealed that there was a song that influenced her.

“When I first heard ‘Puppy Love’ on the radio, I almost killed myself,” she said. “I was sitting on the counter at my aunt’s house and suddenly I heard my voice. I slipped on the floor because she was mopping the floor. I was trying to access the radio. Even to this day, I have never had anything more exciting than the first time I heard myself on the radio.