Dolly Parton Tells Little-Known Tale About Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s Connection to ‘I Will Always Love You’
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Turns out, we almost lived in a world with "I Will Always Love You (Elvis's Version)."
In a new interview with the BBC, songwriter Dolly Parton dished out the nitty-gritty details about the late "Hound Dog" singer's love for the track, and why their mutual desire for a studio recording of his own never came to fruition.
"Elvis loved the song," she said in the video uploaded to the radio station's TikTok. She always knew that, but she learned just how much in a recent conversation with Priscilla Presley. "She said to me, 'You know, Elvis sang that song to me when we walked down the courthouse steps when we got divorced. He was singing to me 'I Will Always Love You,'" she told the outlet.
According to Parton, Elvis was such a fan of the song he'd already recorded it. They even invited her out to the studio to hear it, but she never made it that far, as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, called her up and said that Elvis would need at least 50% of the song's publishing rights, which Parton couldn't agree to.
"This is the most important copyright in my whole publishing company," she told him. "I can't do that."
She said she was "heartbroken" over having to make the call, to this day wanting to hear how Elvis did it, but has found another way to honor him.
A song she wrote 20 years ago, called "I Dreamed of Elvis," is set to debut on her upcoming album Rockstar, featuring vocals from Ronnie McDowell, who used to tour with the King and even sounds like him.
That album is set to release on Nov. 17, 2023.
Next: Elvis Presley’s Army Pal Shares 'Favorite Story' From Their Time Stationed Abroad
