Why did Elvis Presley not record it?

Dolly refused to give up half the publishing rights

How does Whitney's version begin?

A cappella, with no instruments

I Will Always Love You Quiz: Dolly's Song and Whitney's Cover

This I Will Always Love You quiz follows one song from a Nashville farewell to a global ballad. Play 10 interactive questions on Dolly Parton writing it as a goodbye to Porter Wagoner, saying no to Elvis Presley, two country number ones, Whitney Houston's version for The Bodyguard, its a cappella opening, a famous key change, 14 weeks at number one and Grammy wins.

Start I Will Always Love You Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Writer
Who wrote I Will Always Love You?
Year
When did Dolly first record it?
Goodbye
To whom was the song a farewell?
Elvis
Why did Elvis Presley not record it?
Country
How many times did Dolly's versions top the country chart?
Film
Which film featured Whitney Houston's version?
Open
How does Whitney's version begin?
Weeks
How many weeks did Whitney's version spend at number one in the US?
Album
What record does The Bodyguard soundtrack hold?
Grammy
Which top Grammy did Whitney's version win?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Who wrote I Will Always Love You?
Answer: Dolly Parton
She also recorded it first.
Q2: When did Dolly first record it?
Answer: 1973
It was released in 1974.
Q3: To whom was the song a farewell?
Answer: Porter Wagoner, her TV partner
She was leaving his show.
Q4: Why did Elvis Presley not record it?
Answer: Dolly refused to give up half the publishing rights
She later said it was hard to say no.
Q5: How many times did Dolly's versions top the country chart?
Answer: Twice
The second was in 1982.
Q6: Which film featured Whitney Houston's version?
Answer: The Bodyguard
Kevin Costner co-starred.
Q7: How does Whitney's version begin?
Answer: A cappella, with no instruments
Kevin Costner suggested it.
Q8: How many weeks did Whitney's version spend at number one in the US?
Answer: 14
It was a record at the time.
Q9: What record does The Bodyguard soundtrack hold?
Answer: Best-selling soundtrack album ever
It sold tens of millions.
Q10: Which top Grammy did Whitney's version win?
Answer: Record of the Year
It won in 1994.

From Nashville Farewell to Global Ballad

Dolly Parton wrote I Will Always Love You as a farewell to Porter Wagoner, her partner on his TV show, when she left to go solo. She recorded it in 1973, and it topped the country chart in 1974. A new version for the film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas topped it again in 1982.

Elvis Presley wanted to record it, but his manager demanded half the publishing rights. Dolly refused, a decision that later earned her a fortune when the song became a global hit.

Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard in 1992, opening a cappella at Kevin Costner's suggestion and building to a dramatic key change. It spent 14 weeks at number one in the US and won Record of the Year. The Bodyguard soundtrack is the best-selling soundtrack album ever.

What This Quiz Teaches

Music fans will enjoy these questions.

Who wrote the song
Why Elvis passed
How Dolly's versions charted
How Whitney changed it
Which records it set

Did You Know?

Whitney's version opens with silence.
Dolly calls Whitney's version magnificent.
The song plays at the film's end.
Royalties made Dolly very wealthy.
Covers appear on talent shows constantly.