With 14 weeks at #1 on the singles charts, Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” from the 1992 soundtrack to The Bodyguard became the longest consecutively running #1 single of all time. This insanely popular hit was written by Dolly Parton in 1973 during her split from longtime collaborator Porter Wagoner and released the next year as a follow-up to hit song “Jolene”. Parton has released and recorded it three separate times as a major country but lesser pop chart hit (in 1974, 1982 and 1995 as a duet with Vince Gill). Prior to Whitney Houston’s soulful interpretation, Parton had been contacted by Elvis Presley’s management to negotiate licensing for the King to record a version, but when she refused to split her songwriting royalties, the deal fell through. Houston’s rendition remains the biggest hit – by a long shot - of any of its many cover versions.

Official Whitney Houston Website
Whitney Houston on Rolling Stone.com
Dolly Parton performance