Dolly Parton invested songwriting royalties into Nashville community
We will always love you, Dolly!
Dolly Parton has revealed that she invested the revenue from her songwriting royalties into her hometown community in Nashville, Texas.
The music legend invested the revenue from Whitney Houston’s immensely successful cover of her song ‘I Will Always Love You’ into the predominantly Black community.
Dolly wrote and recorded the track, which was originally released by the Country music star in 1974. It was penned as a farewell to her former partner and mentor Porter Wagoner and went to Number 1 in the US Country chart.
The song was then made even more famous in 1992, when a version was recorded by the iconic Whitney Houston for the film The Bodyguard before it became one of the biggest-selling singles of all time.
In an interview on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens, the ‘9 to 5’ singer was questioned on what was the “best thing” she’d ever bought with her songwriting fortune.
Dolly said: "I bought my big office complex down in Nashville. So I thought, 'Well, this is a wonderful place to be’.
"I bought a property down in what was the Black area of town, and it was mostly just Black families and people that lived around there.”
According to Forbes, the ‘Jolene’ hitmaker made about $10 million from the song and continues to cash in on its popularity.
“It was off the beaten path from 16th Avenue and I thought, 'Well, I am gonna buy this place — the whole strip mall.' And I thought, 'This is the perfect place for me to be,' considering it was Whitney."
She added: "I thought this was great. I'm just gonna be down here with her people, who are my people as well.
“So I just love the fact that I spent that money on a complex and I think, 'This is the house that Whitney built.'”
Throughout her career, Dolly has supported a number of charities, including founding the Dollywood Foundation in 1988 which continues to send a child a book every month.
More recently, she helped fund the Moderna vaccine against the Covid-19 pandemic, donating $1 million into research for the vaccine.
Take a look at our favourite Dolly Parton quotes:
"It's hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world."
Dolly Parton performing in 1976.
"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
Dolly on stage.
"You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on. "
Dolly Parton on stage at Glastonbury Festival in 2014.
"You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try."
Dolly Parton and her Goddaughter Miley Cyrus on stage at the Grammy Awards in 2019.
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one."
Dolly Parton and her former partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, who she wrote her hit 'I Will Always Love You' about.
"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."
Dolly performing on stage at the UK Country Music Festival.
"Never leave a rhinestone unturned."
Dolly Parton in a publicity shot for the film 'Rhinestone' in 1984.
"Life is short, keep your dreams big and your hair bigger."
Dolly Parton co-hosting the 57th Academy Of Country Music Awards in March 2022.
"When it comes to music or hair, crank up the volume!"
Dolly performed at the Academy of Country Music Awards 2022.
Read more:
Everything you need to know about music icon Dolly Parton
We love Dolly Parton! 7 of her best quotes through the years