I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton | Artist Essentials
First released: February 4, 1974 (day verified)
Original 1974 Jolene studio recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: Listen to how restraint makes the farewell feel larger than the arrangement.
YouTube opens a title-and-artist search. The selected recording and date are identified below.
Release evidence and recording details
First released: February 4, 1974 (day verified)
First issued on Jolene in February 1974, before its single release; the 1982 soundtrack performance is a later rerecording.
Recording: Original 1974 Jolene studio recording
Credit: Dolly Parton
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original album: Jolene
Jolene - official Dolly Parton album catalog
Original album released February 4, 1974; tracklist includes I Will Always Love You. This album date is later than the Jolene single. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
Dolly Parton in the 1980s - official timeline
Identifies Islands in the Stream as the 1983 Kenny Rogers duet and distinguishes the 1982 I Will Always Love You rerecording from the 1974 original. | Reviewed 2026-10-17
In the yearly lists
This selected recording is beyond the current yearly lists.
About Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton's singing and songwriting grew from the ballads, gospel music and country traditions of her Appalachian upbringing in Tennessee. She moved to Nashville in 1964 and became widely known through her work with Porter Wagoner, including television appearances and duet recordings. Her solo career expanded from country records into pop crossover and film. Later bluegrass recordings returned attention to acoustic traditions already present in her early musical life, alongside her continuing work as a songwriter.
Artist background sources
Dolly Parton - Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum biography
Appalachian musical upbringing, 1964 Nashville move, Porter Wagoner partnership, solo pop and film work, and later bluegrass recordings. | Retrieved 2026-10-17
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-17. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
Continue listening
Recommended positions express one editorial listening sequence. They are not measured quality scores.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.