The tragedy for me is doubled here because her visual (and accompanying) shtick might prevent her from being remembered properly in American popular culture: as one of the greatest songwriters in the English language. #DollyParton #songwriting #countrymusic

FROM AI:

Whitney Houston generated over $10 million in royalties for Dolly Parton in the 1990s alone, with lifetime earnings from the cover estimated to exceed $20 million.

Because Dolly Parton wrote and owned the full publishing rights to the 1974 song “I Will Always Love You”, she earned a songwriter and publisher fee every time Houston’s legendary 1992 version for The Bodyguard soundtrack was played, sold, or broadcast.

Where the Money Went

Dolly Parton publicly shared how she spent a major portion of those earnings:

The Investment: In 1997, Parton used the money to purchase a large commercial strip mall and office complex in Sevier Park, a historically Black neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Tribute: She chose the location intentionally to honor Houston, famously stating during a Watch What Happens Live interview that she wanted to invest back into Houston’s community, calling the property “the house that Whitney built.”

The Elvis Connection

The payday only happened because Parton fiercely protected her copyrights years prior. In the 1970s, Elvis Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker, demanded 50% of the publishing rights before Elvis would record a cover. Parton turned them down, crying all night over the decision. Because she refused to give up her rights, she later collected 100% of the publishing royalties when Houston recorded her version.