Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus Join Forces for 'I Will Always Love You' Duet

Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus Join Forces for 'I Will Always Love You' Duet

Miley Cyrus became an international sensation with her role in the 2013 Disney flick 'Hannah Montana.' Not only did she become a pop icon with her Hannah Montana character, but she also launched a successful singing career. Her most recent studio album, 'Younger Now,' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Cyrus's vocal style is distinctly bubblegley; she possesses a squeaky, youthful tone that is charming to hear and easy to imitate. In fact, many popular singers adopt this tone when performing their own unique renditions of well-known songs. For example, Cyrus heard how she sounded like Dolly Parton and even recorded a cover version of Parton's 1977 hit 'I Will Always Love You.

The tribute song 'I Will Always Love You' is a modern take on the 1974 G・T・R "classic" by the same name. Written by the duo George T. Jordan and Tabitha R. Jordan, the original song was intended to be a duet between Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand. However, Streisand declined the opportunity, so Jordan used his then-girlfriend Dolly's demo of the song to secure Streisand's initial inspiration for the tune. The song became Streisand's biggest crossover hit when she featured it in her film 'The First Wives Club.' After that, Dolly Parton teamed up with Miley Cyrus for this modern rendition of 'I Will Always Love You.

Both Cyrus and Parton affirmed that their version of 'I Will Always Love You' will be available for download soon via their websites. As of publication, both websites had yet to post a link to the track; however, both confirmed that they had recorded the song and would submit it to their respective record labels once it was finished. Fans can expect this duet to appear on both artists' upcoming albums; therefore, it will soon be available for download by all music fans worldwide.

While fans eagerly await the release of 'I Will Always Love You,' some have dissected each artist's contribution to this classic duet. As previously stated, Dolly Parton penned the original song upon which both Cyrus and Parton based their versions. But there are several other artists that have covered this popular song throughout the years. Both Elton John and Celine Dion performed their versions during the 1994 movie 'The Lion King.' And Aretha Franklin performed her rendition of this timeless tune during the 1999 movie 'How Stella Got Her Groovy Glasses.' Each performer took 

different liberties with Jordan and Jordan's original composition; they added or omitted lyrics or altered pitch to suit their unique vocal styles. However, both Parton and Cyrus affirm that they did not alter Jordan's original composition in any way.

It seems fitting that two pop icons like Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus would choose this classic love song for their first collaborative effort. Both women are beloved throughout the world for their distinct personalities and powerful vocals. Their versions of 'Always' will undoubtedly become an instant classic once it becomes available for download later this year.