Ten Songs You Probably Knew Were Covers: I Will Always Love You (#5)

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Just in time for the weekend I'm here to stir up a hornet's nest. I'm sorry, it's not my intent. I'm just being honest. Here's the next song on the list of hits that you probably knew were covers. #5: I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston NO. Just plain freaking NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This song is one of the sweetest "I love you but I hate you" songs ever written. And Whitney turned it into vocal gymnastics. When she died I kept the TV on mute because I knew they'd play this song during news stories about her. And yes, I know I'm in the minority when it comes to this opinion. The song was #1 for 14 years and sold 82 gazillion copies. (Actually, 14 weeks and 5 million....just in the US.) Ah, but Dolly liked it. Even if Dolly didn't like it she could cry all the way to the bank. Written about her tumultuous relationship and break-up with duet partner (in more ways than one, nudge nudge wink wink) Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" is a heartbreaking beauty. Linda Ronstadt got it right. Whitney didn't. PS: the man who was Dolly's mentor and first record producer, Country Music Hall of Fame member Fred Foster, passed away yesterday. She said in a statement that she will always love him. I Will Always Love You Written by Dolly Parton Originally recorded by Dolly Parton, 1973 Famously covered by Whitney Houston, 1992 Bittersweet memories: