The Song That Almost Didn’t Happen

🎵 Music Story of the Day: The Song That Almost Didn’t Happen
I Will Always Love You is one of the most iconic songs of all time—but it nearly never became the powerhouse ballad we know today.
Dolly Parton actually wrote and recorded the song back in 1973 as a goodbye to her mentor. It was already a hit in the country world—but years later, it got a second life.

When Whitney Houston was preparing for The Bodyguard, she originally planned to record a completely different song. But at the last minute, she switched—and that decision changed music history.
Even more surprising? That unforgettable opening—where Whitney sings completely a cappella—wasn’t even part of the original arrangement. It was a spontaneous creative choice that became one of the most recognizable intros ever.
The result? The song spent 14 weeks at #1, became one of the best-selling singles of all time, and introduced a whole new generation to Dolly Parton’s songwriting.