I Will Always Love You

song by Parton

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July 20, 2026

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"I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded by Dolly Parton in 1974. It was a number one hit on the country music charts. Parton wrote the song to express her feelings after her professional split with her longtime duet partner, Porter Wagoner.1

In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded a soulful rendition of the song for the soundtrack of the film The Bodyguard. Houston's version became a global phenomenon, topping charts worldwide and selling millions of copies. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time and was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.23

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Boyz II Men
II
…at number one with “I Will Always Love You,” Boyz II Men came back to tie her with “I’ll Make Love to You.” The release of their follow-up single, “On Bended Knee,” put them with an elite group of artists (Presley and the Beatles) who succeeded themselves at the…
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…at number one with “I Will Always Love You,” Boyz II Men came back to tie her with “I’ll Make Love to You.” The release of their follow-up single, “On Bended Knee,” put them with an elite group of artists (Presley and the Beatles) who succeeded themselves at the…
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Dolly Parton
Acting and producing career
…revived her 1974 hit “I Will Always Love You.” (Whitney Houston later recorded the song for the film The Bodyguard [1992], and it went on to sell millions of copies.) In 1989 Parton played a principal role in the comedy-drama Steel Magnolias, a weeper about a close-knit group of…
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…revived her 1974 hit “I Will Always Love You.” (Whitney Houston later recorded the song for the film The Bodyguard [1992], and it went on to sell millions of copies.) In 1989 Parton played a principal role in the comedy-drama Steel Magnolias, a weeper about a close-knit group of…
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Whitney Houston
Stardom
…of Dolly Parton’s ballad “I Will Always Love You,” which stayed at number one for 14 weeks. The film’s soundtrack dominated the Grammys the following year, with Houston winning the awards for album of the year, record of the year, and best female pop vocal performance.
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…of Dolly Parton’s ballad “I Will Always Love You,” which stayed at number one for 14 weeks. The film’s soundtrack dominated the Grammys the following year, with Houston winning the awards for album of the year, record of the year, and best female pop vocal performance.
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