SHOCKING NEWS: At nearly 80 years old, Dolly Parton once helped the Black community with a 10 million dollar donation. Before retiring, she said she wanted to be the center of attention for the boundless love of humanity. She also plans to take a trip to Africa to support them, with some suggesting that the amount she donates this time could be double what she gave before!

Dolly Parton has always been known for her immense talent, philanthropy, and kind heart, and her recent comments about how she used the royalties from her iconic song “I Will Always Love You” further demonstrate her generosity and commitment to giving back to the community. In a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Parton shared how the massive success of the song—particularly Whitney Houston’s 1992 version—allowed her to make an investment that was close to her heart.

Parton revealed that she used the royalties from “I Will Always Love You” to purchase a property in Nashville, a decision that was particularly meaningful for her. “I bought my big office complex down in Nashville. So I thought, ‘Well, this is a wonderful place to be,’” she explained. The location she chose was particularly significant: it was situated in an area that was predominantly home to Black families. This decision reflected her admiration for Houston, whose rendition of the song helped catapult it into a global hit.

“This is the perfect place for me to be,” Parton said, reflecting on the neighborhood’s significance. “I bought the whole strip mall, and I thought, ‘This is the perfect place for me to be, considering it was Whitney.’” Parton’s dedication to investing in this community shows just how deeply she values the impact that Houston’s version of the song had on her career and the culture at large. “I’m just gonna be down here with her people, who are my people as well,” she shared. “I just love the fact that I spent that money on a complex and I think, ‘This is the house that Whitney built.’”

This investment in a Black neighborhood is an inspiring example of how Dolly used her success not just for personal gain, but for the betterment of the community. Over the years, the royalties from “I Will Always Love You,” which have earned her about $10 million, continue to fund her philanthropic endeavors and maintain her status as a beloved figure not only in country music but also in charitable circles.

Reflecting on the song’s massive success, Parton shared how she felt a deep sense of pride when she heard Houston’s version on the radio. “You never know when you’re writing songs, how they’re going to turn out,” she said. “But after ‘I Will Always Love You’ became a worldwide thing, it was in the movie [The] Bodyguard, and it was No. 1. I really felt my worth.” For Parton, the song’s success was a turning point, affirming her abilities as a songwriter. She continued, “Whitney did such a fantastic job. And I thought, ‘Wow. I wrote that little song.’”

Although Parton was grateful for the success, she also expressed a lingering wish: to have performed the song alongside Whitney Houston before her untimely passing in 2012. “I was never asked to perform that with Whitney. I wish that could have happened,” she said with a touch of regret. “I would’ve loved that, but I don’t think I could’ve come up to [sing] with her, though — she would’ve outsung me on that one for sure.”

Parton’s story is one of humility, generosity, and immense talent, and her investment in the community that supported her musical legacy shows just how much she values the connections she’s made throughout her life and career. Her words and actions continue to inspire, proving that even in the face of incredible success, she remains dedicated to making a positive impact on the world around her.