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One of country icon Dolly Parton’s most famous songs, “I Will Always Love You,” has held deeper meaning for many people over the years. For Parton herself, the 1974 song represented her strained relationship with her multi-year songwriting and duet partner, Porter Wagoner.
The # 1 hit – now in the Grammy Hall of Fame – was about Parton trying to break free from Wagoner’s control. She recorded it for the Jolene album, as well as for the soundtrack of The best little brothel in Texas, his 1982 film starring Burt Reynolds. Naturally, Whitney Houston later made it one of the greatest pop hits in history.
But “I Will Always Love You” also had special meaning for rock and roll legend Elvis Presley and his wife, Priscilla Presley. In Parton’s new memoirs, Dolly Parton, singer: My life in words (released November 17, 2020 and written alongside Robert K. Oermann), Parton reveals the story behind the song – and Elvis’ surprising connection to it.
Wagoner and Parton began to clash while working together
After a long, collaborative partnership that involved several duet albums and numerous songwriting sessions, Parton and Wagoner began to clash, she writes in her memoir. The 74-year-old singer began to feel locked in by Wagoner, who was becoming increasingly possessive of Parton and her burgeoning career.
In Dolly Parton, singer: My life in words, Parton writes that Wagoner didn’t want anyone “to have anything to do with her” in terms of the music business – and wanted more control over her career than she ever wanted to give him. She began to realize that she was going to have to venture out on her own, as difficult as it was.
Over time, she explains in her new book, their relationship became toxic and rife with arguments.
“He was trying to control something that is not controllable, and that made him miserable and me miserable,” she explains.
Parton wrote ‘I will always love you’ to represent his troubled relationship with Wagoner
Despite his gentle demeanor, Parton wasn’t the type to be rushed. All of her feelings came out in one writing session. Thus, “I will always love you” was born.
Parton writes in his memoir that the hit song “came straight from the bottom of [her] heart. ”Tears flowed from her eyes as she picked up pen on paper and explained all of her bittersweet feelings for Wagoner over the years.
When he first heard the song, even Wagoner couldn’t deny how beautiful it was.
“He said, ‘It’s the best song you’ve ever written. And you can go, if I can produce this song, ”Parton writes. “I said, ‘It’s a deal!'”
RELATED: Who Was Dolly Parton’s Original “Jolene”?
Elvis wanted to record the song first
While the story behind “I Will Always Love You” was entirely Parton’s, she wasn’t going to record it initially. Instead, the King of Rock and Roll himself was the initial choice.
“Elvis loved the song and wanted to record it,” Parton reveals, adding that it would have been a dream come true. But her director, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded half of her publishing rights – and she knew she couldn’t give them up.
“It broke my heart, but I couldn’t give up my copyright,” Parton writes in Edge plate. “I cried, because I could just hear Elvis sing it. But sometimes you just have to hold on.
Parton’s decision was especially important to her at the time when it came to this song, which was about standing up for herself and breaking free from those who tried to hold her back. If she ever had to back down about anything, it wouldn’t be “I’ll always love you.”
Priscilla told Parton the song had even deeper meaning for her after her divorce
Parton’s famous song also played a surprising role in Elvis’ divorce proceedings from his wife, Priscilla.
Elvis met Priscilla when she was just 14 and 24, according to Biography. They married in 1967 and became the adorable parents of their only daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, nine months later.
But Elvis and Priscilla’s love life waned after the birth of their daughter. In addition, the crooner often went out on his wife, before and after tying the knot. Eventually, Priscilla had her own affair outside of marriage and she decided to leave her husband for good.
Although Elvis never recorded “I Will Always Love You,” he sang it to his future ex-wife as their surprisingly friendly divorce unfolded in 1973.
“Priscilla told me years later that was the song he sang to her when they left the divorce courtroom,” Parton wrote in her memoir. “So it touched me even more.”
While the reasons for Parton’s choice to write the song and for its performance by Elvis were bittersweet at best, it is evident that “I Will Always Love You” has the power to touch hearts in the most moments. difficult and most poignant.
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