Dolly Parton wrote the song “I Will Always Love You.”

Quick Scoop

  • The song “I Will Always Love You” was written and first recorded by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton in 1973.
  • She released it as a country single in 1974, where it became a major hit on the U.S. country charts.
  • Parton wrote it as a heartfelt farewell to her mentor and business partner Porter Wagoner when she decided to leave his show and pursue a solo career.
  • Decades later, Whitney Houston’s powerful 1992 version for the film The Bodyguard turned the song into a global pop and R&B anthem, but the authorship and original recording still belong to Parton.

Many listeners today associate the track with Whitney Houston, but the answer to “who wrote the song I Will Always Love You” is firmly Dolly Parton.

TL;DR: Dolly Parton wrote and originally recorded “I Will Always Love You” in the 1970s; Whitney Houston later made it a worldwide hit with her famous cover.

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