3 Songs Written by Dolly Parton That Became Incredible Hits for Other Artists

Dolly Parton’s songwriting brought success to other performers as well as to her own recordings. Three songs she wrote became hits for Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris and Whitney Houston, showing how her work travelled across country music and into a blockbuster film.

Haggard took “Kentucky Gambler”, which Parton also recorded for her 1975 album *The Bargain Store*, to No. 1. Harris reached the Top 5 in 1978 with “To Daddy”, a song about a woman who leaves her family to seek happiness. Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” was a hit for her in 1974, then found a new audience when Houston recorded it 18 years later for *The Bodyguard*; Parton later recalled pulling over to listen to Houston’s version.