Which country singer wrote the song I Will Always Love You?

Country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You.”

Parton wrote the song in 1973 during the end of her professional partnership with Porter Wagoner, her mentor and longtime collaborator. The lyrics express a respectful farewell as she decided to leave Wagoner’s television and touring operation to pursue a solo career. She recorded the original version in Nashville, and it became a country hit in 1974.

Whitney Houston’s soaring 1992 recording introduced the song to an even larger global audience. Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard soundtrack after producer David Foster drew inspiration from Linda Ronstadt’s earlier interpretation. Houston’s version became a massive international pop hit, but Parton remained the songwriter and original recording artist.

The song is therefore often misidentified as a Houston composition. Houston made it iconic for a new generation, while the writing credit and song’s country origins belong to Parton.