The Deal Dolly Parton Refused to Make

In the 1970s, Dolly Parton received the sort of telephone call most young songwriters could only dream about.

Elvis Presley wanted to record one of her songs.

The song was I Will Always Love You, which Dolly had written as she prepared to leave her professional partnership with Porter Wagoner.

Dolly was thrilled. Elvis loved the song, the recording session was being arranged, and she had even been invited to attend.

Then, the day before the session, Elvis's manager Colonel Tom Parker called.

There was a condition.

If Elvis recorded the song, Dolly would have to give up at least half of the publishing rights.

She said no.

Dolly later recalled being heartbroken. Having Elvis Presley record one of her songs could have been an enormous opportunity, but she believed the copyright was too important to surrender.

Nearly twenty years later, Whitney Houston recorded I Will Always Love You for The Bodyguard.

Her version became a worldwide phenomenon.

And because Dolly had held onto the publishing rights all those years earlier, she remained the songwriter and owner of one of the most valuable songs of her career.

Sometimes the most important decision in a creative career isn't knowing when to say yes.

It's having the courage to say no.

🎵 Question:

Have you ever turned down an opportunity because something about it didn't feel right — and later realised you'd made the right decision?