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Patti LaBelle Reveals Dolly Parton Offered Her 'I Will Always Love You' Before Whitney Houston

WBLS Staff
10/30/2019 12:00 AM EDT

photo credit: Paul R. Giunta / Getty Images

The classic song “I Will Always Love You” is one of the ’90s biggest anthems, known for having Whitney Houston’s beautiful voice singing it.

As many know, the song was original sung by Dolly Parton, but to a lot of people’s surprise- Patti LaBelle almost recorded a version of it herself.

During an episode of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the Godmother of Soul revealed that Parton originally offered her the song. “I said to Dolly, ‘Oh yes, I want to do that song, honey!’ ” LaBelle recalled to Cohen. “But before I could say real yes, it was in the movie and Whitney killed it.”

She continued, “I was so happy Whitney got that song and it just went like it did. But Dolly Parton and I had planned. ‘Patti, you’re going to sing that song,’ ” LaBelle added. “Next! That’s how show-business is!”

LaBelle went on to say that she hasn’t recorded a cover to the classic record out of respect for the late Whitney. See the full interview below.


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