Dolly Parton. She owned what was hers.
The afternoon before Elvis was due to record her song, Dolly Parton said no to his manager and cried all night. Years later the decision made her a fortune.
THE GIST ON DOLLY PARTON: "Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley"
What did Elvis's manager want?
The afternoon before Elvis Presley was due to record her song, Dolly Parton got a call. His manager wanted half the publishing rights. She said no, and she cried all night about it.
Elvis's manager was up to his old tricks: Elvis doesn't record anything unless they get half the publishing rights. She said she hadn't known that. He said it's just a rule. She said, well, it ain't my rule.
What is publishing?
Publishing is owning the song itself, separate from anyone's recording of it. Owning half of it is owning half of what it earns forever, for a man who wrote none of it. The session was cancelled and she was devastated.
How did it turn out?
In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded the song for The Bodyguard and it became one of the biggest selling singles of all time. Dolly owns it, and she said it gave her enough money to buy Graceland.
What do people get wrong about her?
They read her sparkle as softness. She was never once confused about what was hers. She spent 30 years posting free books to children and gave away more than almost anybody alive, and she could do that because she never let anybody take something off her first.
You can only give away what you actually own. You can love somebody completely and still walk out the door with your name on the work.
Would you have said no to Elvis?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
Why didn't Elvis record Dolly Parton's song?
His manager wanted half the publishing rights, and she refused. The session was cancelled.
What happened to the song?
Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard in 1992 and it became one of the biggest selling singles of all time.
What is publishing?
Owning the song itself, separate from any recording of it, so you earn from it forever.
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