Dolly Parton has recalled that giving her song "To Daddy" to Emmylou Harris in 1977 sparked one of the biggest rows of her career with her then-musical partner and mentor Porter Wagoner. Early in her career, Parton prized her identity as a songwriter above all else, and while she often performed alongside Wagoner, she insisted on retaining control over her own material, even reportedly refusing to let Elvis Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, claim a songwriting credit in exchange for Presley recording her work.

Parton has said she wanted "To Daddy" to go to Harris, then an emerging star, believing it would help her songs gain recognition through prominent artists. Wagoner, however, was said to be "so furious" over the decision, viewing it as "a terrible mistake" and prompting a major clash between the pair. Parton has framed the episode as part of a deliberate long-term strategy of giving songs to other performers before establishing her own solo career, one that ultimately led to hits such as "I Will Always Love You" and "9 to 5".