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The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Thursday, August 27, 2026

Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" was a Parting Gift to Porter Wagoner

Dolly Parton dedicated her iconic song "I Will Always Love You" to Porter Wagoner as a parting gift when she decided to pursue her career independently. This song became one of her most recognizable hits, marking a significant moment in her transition from being part of The Porter Wagoner Show.

personDolly PartonpersonPorter Wagoner

The tape

2 quotes
At this point, Dolly decided to make a go of it on her own, and she couldn't have given Porter a better parting gift. She dedicated to him what is possibly her most iconic song.
Amanda McGallan
I will always love you.
Dolly Parton
Heard on The Atlas Obscura Podcast — “The Dolly Parton Song We Can All Look Forward To, published Thursday, August 27, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.
Transcribed via Gemini audio transcription · $0.04