Of the many roles that Dolly Parton held — including singer, actress, philanthropist, author and humanitarian — perhaps the chief legacy of the late icon, who died Tuesday (Aug. 25) at age 80, is as a songwriter.
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Gifted with a unique talent to distill the most universal feelings into sage reflections, catchy quip-filled charm or tear-jerking sentiments, Parton created a catalog that stretched across genres and generations. Beyond establishing the foundation of her own career, the works assisted in milestone moments for fellow iconic superstars — including a pair of significant Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits – in markedly different renditions from the originals.
The most obvious case occurred in 1992 when Whitney Houston covered one of Parton’s signature tunes, “I Will Always Love You,” for the soundtrack to her feature film debut, The Bodyguard. Given the song’s placement, where characters played by Houston and her co-star Kevin Costner finally drop their guard and share an extended kiss, and its segue into the closing credits, the song selection was a pivotal moment — and the iconic result nearly never happened. Houston was initially set to record a cover of Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” but two conflicts prevented its final approval. The first, as Bodyguard music supervisor Maureen Crowe told the New York Post in 2022, “when you slow that song down, it’s like a dirge.” And worse, during production, singer Paul Young covered the song for 1991’s Fried Green Tomatoes and it climbed to a No. 22 Hot 100 peak. “We couldn’t use that song because it would just seem like we ripped it off.”
Parton’s song was then suggested, a pitch that satisfied Houston, Costner and Arista Records head Clive Davis. Several adjustments make it plenty different from Parton’s — an a cappella opening, a slower tempo and the return of an oft-skipped third verse — but the core DNA of an agonizing, tearful heartbreak remains. Unlike the fictional Bodyguard scenario, Parton’s inspiration was autobiographical, stemming from a decision to exit The Porter Wagoner Show after a multi-year run with the host, with whom she recorded many duets in the 1960s and ‘70s.
In both scenarios, the song became a hit. Parton’s original topped the Hot Country Songs chart in 1974, while a re-recorded rendition ruled again in 1982. Houston’s version, meanwhile, became a pop-culture juggernaut, setting a then-record 14-week stay at No. 1 on the Hot 100, and winning Grammy Awards for record of the year and best pop vocal performance, female. Parton co-presented the latter, and Houston began her acceptance speech with the appreciation, “Dolly, of course, coming from you, this is truly an honor. Thank you for writing a beautiful song. Thank you so much for writing beautiful songs.”
Another Parton signature, “Jolene,” received an overhaul to top 10 success when Beyoncé restyled the track for 2024’s Cowboy Carter, her first full-length album to explore country music and adjacent sounds. Recasting the plea as a warning — flipping “I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man” to “I’m warnin’ you, don’t come for my man,” for example — the heavier drum-backed, cautionary tale marked one of the album’s most anticipated listens. Upon Cowboy Carter’s chart debut, “Jolene” debuted at No. 7 on the Hot 100, the third highest of the album’s 23 placements on that week’s chart, behind lead single “Texas Hold ‘Em” and the “II Most Wanted” duet with Miley Cyrus — Parton’s goddaughter.
While the twist caught Parton off-guard, she appreciated the reworked take. “When they said she was going to do ‘Jolene,’ I expected it to be the regular one, but it wasn’t,” Parton told E! News in 2024. “I loved what she did to it. As a songwriter, you love the fact that people do your song, no matter how they do them. She wasn’t about to beg some woman like I did.”
Through Beyoncé, “Jolene” reached No. 3 on the Hot Country Songs chart in April 2024, its highest rank since Parton’s original, a No. 1, in February 1974 — just over 50 years apart. The two shared another Cowboy Carter connection thanks to Parton’s feature on “Tyrant,” on which she provided a spoken introduction. Just as Parton’s classic helped Beyoncé make inroads into the country lane, “Tyrant” aided the reverse of their traditional home bases by giving Parton her first entry on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at No. 18.
“Dolly, you were the barometer. The North Star. Bold and brilliant. Talented and tenacious,” Beyoncé wrote in part upon Parton’s death. “I’m honored that I had the privilege to work with you. I will treasure that forever. Thank you for your profound impact on the world. You are truly one of one. Rest peacefully.”