"Dolly stands as a beacon of light to protect your copyright and to do with it what you wish," says Erin McAnally, executive director of the Songwriters of North America.

In the 1970s, Dolly Parton turned down Elvis Presley when he asked to split publishing rights for "I Will Always Love You." The risky move paid off.

What was striking about her career was not how many people loved her, but how few didn’t.