‘I had no idea’: Netizens react after discovering that ‘I Will Always Love You’ was Dolly Parton’s song

On 27 August, some online users admitted they were genuinely shocked upon learning that the iconic song I Will Always Love You was originally written and recorded by the late Dolly Parton.

Parton sadly passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday, 25 August, after a “brief battle with cancer.” Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, shared the devastating news, stating, “I am representing the Parton and Owens family today, announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, sister, sis, Aunt Granny to one generation, and Gigi to the next.”

REACTIONS POUR IN AFTER DOLLY PARTON’S ICONIC SONG DISCOVERY

On X (formerly Twitter), @Todayyearsold confessed he simply didn’t know that Dolly Parton was the original voice behind I Will Always Love You. He wrote, “Hold on… you’re telling me I Will Always Love You is a DOLLY PARTON song and Whitney Houston’s version was a COVER?”

Hold on… you’re telling me “I Will Always Love You” is a DOLLY PARTON song and Whitney Houston’s version was a COVER????? 🤯 https://t.co/Z8SLWk8aho

— Today Years Old (@todayyearsold) August 27, 2026

Others shared the same sentiments, emphasising that different generations might not know this fact since they mostly knew the Whitney Houston version.

Mr Shady Slime: I had no idea either. Idk, (I don’t know) why people need to be so nasty about it.

Sarah Lahorn: I genuinely didn’t know this. Every time I’ve heard someone sing this song, they always say Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You. It’s quite literally the most-used version in movies, too. So, this is news to me, but it just shows how her cover had a better impact than the original.

Crypto_Pork_Lyr: [I’m] in my 50’s and not living under a rock, and I had no idea. Whitney’s version is better, in my opinion, but this was beautiful.

Jatki125: Dude, I’ve been listening to Dolly Parton my whole life because of my grandma and mom. I’m 27, and I never knew this.

‘NEVER KNEW THIS?’

While some Tweeps were oblivious to this tidbit about Dolly Parton, many others were in disbelief and criticised those who hadn’t researched the story behind the song.

Ghost manK33: You literally have to have been living under a rock not to know this.

The Pop of It All: You went through all your years of living and never knew this?

JPierreX7: Wait till you find out that Whitney was mainly just a vocalist. She did very little writing and was obviously not a musician. But I have a feeling you knew this and were just engagement farming. If you are old enough to know the song, you’re old enough to know its background.

THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG

I Will Always Love You was a sincere farewell to Dolly Parton’s mentor and business partner, Porter Wagoner, marking her decision to carve out a solo career.

The song gained major success when the late Whitney Houston recorded it for the 1992 film, The Bodyguard. Dolly had no qualms about the success of Whitney’s version, which raked in millions in royalties.

Parton donated some of those earnings to support an office complex in a Black neighbourhood in Nashville.