Patti LaBelle Almost Sung ‘I Will Always Love You’ Instead Of Whitney Houston
There are a few iconic songs that when mentioned, fans can’t imagine anyone else singing them. Patti LaBelle recently spilled some major tea on one of the greatest love songs of all time.
When the diva appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, she dished that Whitney Houston’s timeless classic, “I Will Always Love You,” was almost her song. LaBelle revealed that Dolly Parton, who wrote and released the song in 1973, initially offered her the track, which she readily accepted.
Labelle says, “Dolly Parton offered it to me before The Bodyguard,” the soul food mogul shared. “And, I said to Dolly, ‘Oh yes, I want to do that song, honey.’ Before I could say a real yes, it was in the movie and Whitney killed it.”
Despite losing out on the opportunity, LaBelle had nothing but love for Houston’s 1992 version which won record of the year and The Bodyguard soundtrack sold 17 million albums.
“I’m so happy Whitney got that song and it just went like it did. But Dolly Parton and I had planned, ‘Patti, you’re going to sing that song. Next...that’s how show business is.”
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While LaBelle hasn’t performed the song, out of respect for Houston’s legacy, she did say she does plan to put the song in her show “one day” as a tribute to Houston.
“That was my little girl,” LaBelle raved. “She was phenomenal.”
