I Will Always Love You: From Dolly Parton to Whitney Houston

The song I Will Always Love You is recognized as one of the most commercially successful recordings in music history, though its origins lie in the country music scene of the 1970s rather than the pop charts of the 1990s.

American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton wrote and originally recorded the song on June 12, 1973. The track was written as a farewell to her mentor and business partner, Porter Wagoner, as Parton sought to leave their partnership to pursue a solo career.

Released as a country single on March 11, 1974, the song became an immediate commercial success for Parton. It reached the top spot of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in June 1974.

Parton later recorded the song a second time for the soundtrack of the production The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. This re-recording also reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in October 1982.

The Transition to The Bodyguard

The song shifted from a country staple to a global pop phenomenon in 1992 through the film The Bodyguard. Actor Kevin Costner, who produced the film and played the love interest of the lead character, requested the song from Parton to be used in the movie.

According to Parton, Costner and his secretary were the primary drivers behind the song’s selection. The production team had originally planned to use a different song, but they faced a last-minute panic after another artist had already recorded that specific track.

The inclusion of the song was not immediately supported by all industry stakeholders. Costner stated that executives at Arista Records, Whitney Houston’s label, required some convincing to allow the recording.

I said, ‘Here’s a very important song in this movie.’ I didn’t care if it was ever on the radio,

Kevin Costner

Costner specifically wanted the song to begin a cappella to demonstrate the emotional depth of the character’s feelings for the male lead. Music producer David Foster was tasked with rearranging the country track into the pop-ballad version performed by Whitney Houston.

Global Commercial Impact

Whitney Houston’s 1992 rendition achieved unprecedented success on the global music charts. The single peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for 14 weeks, setting a record at that time.

The song achieved number one rankings on 34 official singles charts worldwide and became the best-selling single of 1992. With more than 25 million copies sold globally, it stands as the best-selling single of all time by a female solo artist.

In the United States, the RIAA certified the single diamond, making it Houston’s first diamond single and the best-selling single by a woman in the U.S. Market.

Parton’s Reaction

Dolly Parton was not aware of the final result of the recording until she heard it on the radio in 1992. She recalled that she initially recognized the melody but did not immediately realize it was her own song.

Parton described the moment she recognized the lyrics I will always love you and the distinctive vibrato of Houston’s voice, stating that she just about wrecked the car from the shock of hearing the arrangement.