"I Will Always Love You" became a record-setting No. 1, while "Jolene" was reinterpreted 50 years after the original reigned at country.
Dolly Parton presents Whitney Houston with a Grammy Award for "I Will Always Love You," 1994
Recording Academy YouTube video
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.
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.
