LOVE TRAX: How Many Covers Does This Song Have?

Our THROWBACK LOVE TRAX today looks at an enormously popular song that was first written in 1973.

It became the best-selling single of all time by a female solo artist when it was released by another singer in 1992.

Can you guess?

It’s “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston! This song has quite the history… so here we go!

Dolly Parton first wrote and then recorded the song as a country single, releasing it in 1974.

Linda Ronstadt then recorded the song in 1975 for her album, Prisoner in Disguise. 

In 1982, Parton re-recorded the song for her film, “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

That brings us to 1992. Whitney Houston was working on the soundtrack for her film, “The Bodyguard,” with Kevin Costner. She was supposed to record “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin as the lead single for the soundtrack. She discovered that song was going to be used in the film “Fried Green Tomatoes” so she wanted something different. Costner was the one who suggested “I Will Always Love You,” and played Ronstadt’s version. Houston and producer David Foster rearranged the song as more of a soulful ballad, and it became one of Houston’s signature songs. 

Houston won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the song. It sold over 24 million copies worldwide.

That kind of success is sure to inspire some other music artists – and indeed it has.

It’s been covered by Kenny Rogers, LeAnn Rimes, and there’s also a dance version by British pop singer Sarah Washington!

Check them out – the many versions of this now-classic love song!