Released in late 1973, “Jolene” by Dolly Parton became a No. 1 country hit for her in February 1974, reached Number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the UK charts.
Dolly Parton also wrote and released a song later made popular by Whitney Houston, namely “I Will Always Love You”.
Dolly Parton’s own version, written and recorded in 1973, came out in 1974 and also went to the top of the country charts.
It did so again when she re-released it eight years later, this time also doing quite well on the pop charts.
Here is Dolly Parton singing “Jolene” live:
This is Dolly Parton’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You”:
I heard Whitney Houston’s version of this again recently while watching the film “The Bodyguard”, by coincidence she was in the country and in fact passed by quite closely after cancelled flights from Northern Ireland meant she had to take the ferry.
It’s one of my favourite songs, and I hadn’t realised Dolly Parton had written and sung it back when Whitney Houston was about ten.
Both versions have their own magic.
Which one do you like best?
Paul