The fact that the US country icon Dolly Parton can still turn it up even at the advanced age of 77 is not only proven by her upcoming album with prominent guest stars and idiosyncratic cover versions of world hits.
In a recent interview with London’s BBC Radio 2, Parton recalled earlier times in her dazzling career.
The real Elvis Presley really appreciated her tearful song “I Will Always Love You” at the time. He wanted to integrate these into his program of cover versions.
Parton now tells her British listeners that she made her “NO” decision not because of Presley (who died in August 1977), but rather because of the rough-and-tumble nature of his manager, Colonel Tom Parker.
“I just didn’t want Parker [die Rechte an dem Song] gets,” she clarified. “Elvis loved the song. I spoke to Priscilla not long ago – she said, ‘Elvis sang it to me as we stood on the courthouse steps after we got divorced’.
And further “He loved this song and wanted to sing it. He had already worked out an arrangement. They had already called me to come to the studio and hear parts of the song…”
But the night before, Parker called Parton. He adamantly said he wouldn’t do anything with Elvis Presley if he didn’t also get the publishing rights to the song.
Background: Unlike most European countries, American “copyright” makes assignments of artistic copyrights possible.
When Parton refused to give up her authorship of the song, he said he could not agree to the deal. The late Elvis looked into the tube.
Parton’s track “I Will Always Love You” gained new mega-popularity when Whitney Houston recorded her own version for the film “The Bodyguard” years later, more precisely in 1992.
Dolly Parton is currently in the starting blocks for the release of her 49th solo album “Rockstar”, which will be released in November 2023. It contains nine original songs and 21 cover versions of rock classics and various celebrity appearances in the recording studio. These include “Purple Rain” by Prince and “I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones.
A late star fireworks display for and with the grande dame of country and southern pop.