Dolly Parton and Elvis

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Dolly Parton tells how The Colonel stopped Elvis recording 'I Will Always Love You': In an interview with CMT producer Jeremy Thacker about the 'Greatest Moments' of her career, Dolly Parton revealed how Elvis nearly recorded her famous song.

Dolly Parton: "I hesitated to tell it for a long time because I thought maybe people would not take it right, because it was about Elvis. But Elvis loved "I Will Always Love You," and he wanted to record it.

I got the word that he was going to record it, and I was so excited. I told everybody I knew, "Elvis is going to record my song. You're not going to believe who's recording my song." It's like one of those things I told everybody. I thought it was a done deal because he sent word that he loved it and he was doing it. They got to town and they called and asked if I wanted to come to the session - and, of course, I was going to go.

Then Colonel Parker gets on the phone and said, "You know, I really love this song," and I said, "You cannot imagine how excited I am about this. This is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me as a songwriter." He said, "Now you know we have a rule that Elvis don't record anything that we don't take half the publishing." And I was really quiet. I said, "Well, now it's already been a hit. I wrote it and I've already published it. And this is the stuff I'm leaving for my family when I'm dead and gone. That money goes in for stuff for my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews, so I can't give up half the publishing." And he said, "Well then, we can't record it." I guess they thought since they already had it prepared and already had it ready, that I would give in. I said, "I'm really sorry," and I cried all night. I mean, it was like the worst thing. You know, it's like, "Oh, my God ... Elvis Presley."

And other people were saying, "You're nuts. It's Elvis Presley. I mean, hell, I'd give him all of it." I said, "I can't do that. Something in my heart says, 'Don't do that.'" And I just didn't do it, and they just didn't do it. But I always wondered what it would sound like. I know he'd kill it. But anyway he never got to record it. Then when Whitney Houston's version came out, I made enough money to buy Graceland!

(News: Source, EIN/CMT)

I'd have loved to hear a version of this song by Elvis :wub: His would have been so different from both Dolly's and Whitney's. Elvis may not be credited with writing many songs, but it was Elvis who took charge of arranging the songs when he was recording them. You only have to hear him in studio outtakes to appreciate his input to the finished song