<Table> <Tr> <Td> "Heartbreak Express" (1982) </Td> <Td> "I Will Always Love You" (1982) </Td> <Td> "Hard Candy Christmas" (1982) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "Heartbreak Express" (1982) </Td> <Td> "I Will Always Love You" (1982) </Td> <Td> "Hard Candy Christmas" (1982) </Td> </Tr> <P> "I Will Always Love You" is a song originally written and recorded in 1973 by American singer - songwriter Dolly Parton . Her country version of the track was released in 1974 as a single and was written as a farewell to her one - time partner and mentor of seven years, Porter Wagoner, following Parton's decision to pursue a solo career . </P> <P> Parton's version of "I Will Always Love You" was a commercial success . It reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart twice . It first reached number one in June 1974, and then in October 1982, with her re-recording on the soundtrack of the movie version of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas . Thus, she achieved the number one position twice with the same song, a rare feat that Chubby Checker had done previously with "The Twist" becoming number one in 1960 and again in 1962 . </P>

Who made i will always love you first