“Y’all, I’ve been crying all day because we lost our lighthouse,” Morgan Myles said onstage at the Grand Ole Opry just hours after Dolly Parton’s passing. The country singer then gave the most touching one-woman acoustic rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” The performance earned a standing ovation as Morgan honored the Queen of Country with an intimate rendition of one of her signature songs. The a cappella sections really pull on the heartstrings, and you can feel Morgan’s love for Dolly coming through so deeply.
There have been many versions of “I Will Always Love You” performed over the years. This one was such a beautiful way to remember Dolly. It’s such a simple, vulnerable performance that perfectly captures what made Dolly’s songwriting so special. The Music Man has to say that we’re sure glad to see the next generation carrying the torch for Dolly’s music like this.
A video of Morgan Myles’ tribute to Dolly was uploaded to YouTube on August 26, 2026, where it drew more than 20,000 views by September 16.
A number of icons have sung “I Will Always Love You.” The greatest performance of the song came when Whitney Houston sang it at the 1994 Grammys. She took out three Grammys that year – two for the song and one for The Bodyguard soundtrack. This was absolute peak Whitney. Her voice is a force of nature and her presence onstage is so powerful – you can’t look away. The performance is certainly a timeless testament to the power of Dolly’s songs.
Dolly Parton released “I Will Always Love You” in March 1974. Dolly was the sole credited writer for the tune, and it was produced by Bob Ferguson. Dolly’s recordings of “I Will Always Love You” topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart twice, in June 1974 and October 1982.
Whitney Houston released a pop version of the song as part of the soundtrack for her film The Bodyguard. This version was certified Diamond in the US. Guinness World Records lists it as the best-selling physical single by a female solo artist, with 24 million copies sold worldwide.
“I Will Always Love You” has also been recorded by a number of stars, such as Linda Ronstadt, LeAnn Rimes and Christina Grimmie.