Dolly was better than Whitney.

[sir pball]

Whitney was bigger, clearer, grander…but emotionally, she can never hold a candle to this.

[DUMember24]

1. Dolly was different from Whitney...

Neither was better than the other. They both a their own flames in their own lane. Personal preferences doesnt make one better.

[Keepthesoulalive]

2. Music is a subjective experience

I feel like we’re stirring.

[iemanja]

3. Disagree

I love Dolly, but Whitney was unparalleled. It’s unfortunate that she lived such a tragic life.

[sir pball]

4. Whitney sings it *at* you, and she does it extraordinarily well...

…but Dolly sings it *for* you, and she means it.

FWIW, I was born in 79 and the Whitney version was the first one I ever heard…

[Aristus]

12. That's the perfect way to describe it.

Dolly's plaintive, heartbreaking rendition will always be the one for me.

[Sane1]

5. And Who Was it That Wrote the Song??

Whitney or Dolly

[iemanja]

6. Dolly

[MacKasey]

31. Dolly wrote the lyrics and the music

Dolly owns the song, Whitney only could rent it.

I like both versions!

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. Chevies are better than Fords

The National League is better than the American League.

Windows is better than Mac.

Ty Cobb was better than Babe Ruth.

Summer is better than autumn.

My gal is red hot. Your gal ain't doodley-squat.

Et cetera, ad infinetum.

[Torchlight]

9. Okay

[Sequoia]

28. And...my dog's better than your dog ..

[SheLiberal]

8. Both are good

I enjoy them both but I have always preferred Dolly’s version, maybe because I watched her sing it on the Porter Wagoner’s show.

[Fla Dem]

10. Dolly does do a good job. But I think Whitney did it with more emotion and a full throated pitch.

[sir pball]

15. Strong disagree. Whitney did it stronger and more full-throated for sure

But, and I don't even mean this in a snarky way, if you think Whitney had more *emotion* than Dolly, I'm honestly not sure what Dolly version you're listening to.

This vocal coach explains my position better than I can:

[Elessar Zappa]

25. I thought Whitney's was more heartfelt.

But it’s all subjective/opinion!

[justaprogressive]

11. Apples & Oranges

Whitney does a riff in "The Preacher's Wife" that I transcribed because it's so brilliant...

[sir pball]

16. I didn't mean to diss Whitney

She was amazing, I just think she sterilized this one a little too much.

[justaprogressive]

18. You didn't

no worries

[Skittles]

13. and I think Karen Carpenter was better than all today's bubblegummy pop singers combined

yeah I'm a geezer

*I do put Dolly in a category of her own, she is unique

[OldBaldy1701E]

23. She was so nice when I met her.

I was a teen just starting in performing. She came to the place where I was working and met with us for a few minutes.

I had to laugh. This was in 1981, and most of the people there were not exactly versed in her music, even if they knew the name.

I, of course, broke into 'Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft', which is my fave Carpenters song. I also mentioned that 'Bless The Beasts And The Children' was one of my favorite books and movies.

She was so thin at that time. It was somewhat jarring to see her after seeing her image in the past.

[Skittles]

33. wow

she was so lovely and talented yet she had no self-esteem....I have read that her mother was a piece of work and I know what that is like.....

[OldBaldy1701E]

35. And so talented!

She played guitar, keys and drums. She played on most of the albums she sang on. At times, she was better than the person who normally played said instrument.

She was so sweet and giving of her time with us. A true talent and a true human being.

[Iggo]

14. They both knocked it out of the park.

[sir pball]

17. Oh, for sure

I just feel like Dolly is more…stylish, as opposed to Whitney going full send.

Both ways are awesome, but I do prefer the lighter touch.

[Rebl2]

19. Dolly

softer, quieter and meaningful/thoughtful.

[UTUSN]

20. I admire your courage. Once, I commented about a superstar & got *blasted* by a super-fan.

[yellowdogintexas]

21. YES!!!!!

I love love Dolly's version.

Whitney had a good voice but I did not care for her style

[Skittles]

22. Dolly music is not my taste but she's very unique

I was never a Whitney fan , too much screaming.

[OldBaldy1701E]

24. If you do not weep during this, I cannot help you.

[Raven123]

26. Can you imagine being Porter Wagoner hearing that tune?

The story behind the song

https://doyouremember.com/111500/dolly-parton-i-will-always-love-you

[OldBaldy1701E]

34. He was always one of my favorites.

And, one has to wonder what his reaction was when he found out what the basis for the song was!

[Bev54]

27. I prefer Whitney's version

[The Blue Flower]

29. Whitney was loud

Dolly was heartfelt.

[Paladin]

30. I refuse to participate in the Dolly vs. Whitney contest.

On account of all the many country-western sites out there, right now, whining about the current quality of C-W music---and longing for the "good old days" where 90% of such music was rendered by white guys, with another 9% done by white women, and Charley Pride plugged into the remaining 1%. These sites didn't spring up until artists like Beyonce successfully encroached on cowboy radio. I've seen a dozen of them on Facebook in the last few months.

No disrespect meant, sir pball...

[ms liberty]

32. It's all personal preference, but Dolly wrote it, recorded it first, and cashes all the royalty checks for it

They're both beautiful versions, and they each approach the song differently.