Whitney Houston Once Called Dolly Parton “One Hell of a Writer” — A Friendship That Changed Music Forever

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Long before I Will Always Love You became one of the biggest songs in music history, Whitney Houston worried about only one person’s opinion: Dolly Parton.

In a 1993 interview with Rolling Stone, Houston spoke with remarkable warmth about the woman who wrote the song, calling Parton “a hell of a writer and a hell of a singer.” The heartfelt comments have resurfaced following Parton’s death at age 80, reminding fans of the extraordinary bond shared by two of music’s greatest voices.

The Song Whitney Was Nervous to Sing

Although Houston’s soaring version of I Will Always Love You became inseparable from The Bodyguard in 1992, the ballad was originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973.

Houston admitted she was anxious before recording it.

She wasn’t worried about hitting the notes—she was worried about honoring Parton’s songwriting.

“I was so concerned when I sang her song, how she’d feel about it,” Houston recalled, explaining that she wondered what Parton would think of her arrangement, vocal style and interpretation.

When Parton later told Houston she was “floored” by the performance, Houston said it meant more to her than almost anything else.

Dolly’s Emotional Reaction

Parton has often shared the unforgettable moment she first heard Houston’s version on the radio while driving through Nashville.

She said Whitney’s voice initially sounded unfamiliar during the spoken introduction. Then the chorus arrived.

Parton recalled being so overwhelmed that she had to pull her car to the side of the road just to listen.

Rather than feeling protective of her signature song, Parton celebrated Houston’s interpretation, saying she believed Whitney had taken it somewhere even she never imagined possible.

A Cover That Became a Global Phenomenon

Released as the lead single from The Bodyguard soundtrack, Houston’s recording became a worldwide sensation.

The song spent 14 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and became the best-selling single by a female artist in history.

For Parton, the success was equally life-changing.

Industry estimates suggest the songwriter earned around $10 million in royalties, but she repeatedly insisted the financial reward mattered less than hearing her song reach millions of new listeners.

Respect That Lasted a Lifetime

There was never a rivalry between the two singers despite persistent tabloid rumors.

In fact, they publicly praised each other for decades.

When Houston won the Grammy for I Will Always Love You, Parton proudly presented her with the award. Years later, following Houston’s death in 2012, Parton wrote an emotional tribute thanking Whitney for giving her song “such a wonderful performance” and ending with the words, “Whitney, I will always love you.”

Houston’s admiration was equally sincere.

She never referred to the song as her own creation, consistently reminding audiences that its emotional power began with Dolly Parton’s writing.

Two Legends, One Timeless Song

Few cover songs have ever eclipsed their original while still honoring it so completely.

Parton wrote I Will Always Love You as a farewell to her longtime musical partner Porter Wagoner. Houston transformed it into a cinematic anthem of love and loss without changing the heart of the song.

Together, they created a piece of music that transcended country, pop and soul—connecting generations of listeners around the world.

As fans continue celebrating Dolly Parton’s remarkable legacy, Houston’s words remain one of the most meaningful tributes of all:

“Dolly Parton is a hell of a writer and a hell of a singer.”

It was praise from one legend to another—and history proved they were both right.