“If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain,” quipped superstar musician, songwriter, and actress Dolly Parton. One of 12 kids, Parton helped raise her younger siblings, and was nurtured by the encouragement of her frequent songwriting partner, her uncle Bill Owens. This quote about rainbows versus rain encapsulates the essence of Parton’s most iconic song—“I Will Always Love You”—and her legacy as an artist.
“I Will Always Love You” was written in 1973 as a farewell to her mentor and musical partner, Porter Wagoner, with whom Parton shared a deep professional and personal bond. Their relationship, though fruitful, had reached a point where Parton felt it was time to pursue her own artistic direction. In a heartwarming yet painful moment of vulnerability, she penned the song, infusing it with love, gratitude, and the bittersweetness of letting go. The lyrics resonate with the conflicting emotions of the desire to cherish memories while at the same time feeling a deep need to move forward.
The song’s journey took an unexpected turn when Elvis Presly expressed an interest in recording it. Parton’s heart raced at the idea, but when confronted with a stipulation requiring her to cede half of the songwriting royalites, she made a courageous decision to hold onto her creation. This steadfastness proved to be a pivotal moment in her career. She preserved a song and also laid the groundwork for her own legacy. Parton’s version of “I Will Always Love You” became a hit upon its release, but its most significant success came decades later when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard soundtrack in 1992. Houston’s version soared to the top of the charts and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Achieving rare EGOT status—through wins or nominations for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards—Parton has solidified her role over six decades as a multi-faceted entertainer, with more than 3,000 songs written and over 100 million albums sold. The tale embodied in “I Will Always Love You” has inspired countless individuals to navigate complex relationships as they forge their own legacies. As Parton eloquently puts it, “If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”
