The song "I Will Always Love You" was written by Dolly Parton in 1973. She originally wrote and recorded it as a farewell to her business partner and mentor, Porter Wagoner, when she decided to pursue a solo career. The song became a hit country single and has since been covered by numerous artists, most famously Whitney Houston, whose 1992 rendition for the film The Bodyguard became a global pop hit.
Dolly Parton's version expressed a bittersweet, respectful parting between professional collaborators rather than romantic breakup, which Whitney Houston later interpreted with romantic overtones.
