Parton first released the song she wrote in 1974 and it became a chart-topper immediately.
“I just thought, ‘This was great.
And so I just love the fact that I spent that money on a complex.
And I think, ‘This is the house that Whitney built,'” Parton told Cohen.
However, there is one superstar who wanted to record the song and Parton never gave him the chance.
That superstar was “The King” himself Elvis Presley.
“I said, ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t give you the publishing.’
“But I had to keep that copyright in my pocket.
You have to take care of your business!
Everybody’s going to use you if they can.
These are my songs they’re like my children.
And I expect them to support me when I’m old!”
That touched me so deeply.
And they also played the song at Whitney Houston’s funeral.
After that, I thought, I bet they’ll play the same song when I go.”
