“Everybody’s going to use you if they can,” Dolly Parton warns in a recent interview, which is why she turned down Elvis Presley’s request for half of the publishing rights for “I Will Always Love You” in exchange for him recording the song.
Parton “cried all night” when the honor of having the King of Rock & Roll sing her song had to be passed up, but, at the end of the day, the beloved country artist just couldn’t give up her copyright.
“These are my songs —“ Parton explains, “They’re like my children. And I expect them to support me when I’m old!” While she speaks lightheartedly, it isn’t without reason that Dolly Parton is one of the most loved and known musical artists throughout generations; she is both a talented singer and a savvy businesswoman.
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