Patti LaBelle has revealed that Dolly Parton made her an offer to record the cover of "I Will Always Love You" before Whitney Houston turned the song into a world-famous hit.

The deceased Houston is arguably more famous for the cover than any of her originals, having made it a thing of legend during the 1990s. But, according to Patti, she was offered the song before Whitney sang it in her the film, The Bodyguard, in 1992.

Speaking as a guest on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Patti claimed that Parton asked her if she wanted the song but she didn't make her answer official quickly enough.

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“I said to Dolly, ‘Oh yes, I want to do that song, honey!’ ” she told Cohen. “But before I could say real yes, it was in the movie and Whitney killed it.”

“I was so happy Whitney got that song and it just went like it did. But Dolly Parton and I had planned. ‘Patti, you’re going to sing that song,’ ” LaBelle added. “Next! That’s how show-business is!”

Parton wrote the hit and recorded it in 1973 for her former partner. However, Whitney's rendition brought her remarkable success as her version spent 14 weeks as the Billboard Hot 100's No.1. She would go on to win the 1993 Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Performance. "I Will Always Love You" is also considered to be one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Many singers have gone on to cover the song but LaBelle says she hasn't out of respect for Whitney, whom she intends to sing it to as a tribute at one of her future shows.

“That was my little girl. She was so phenomenal,” she declared.

LaBelle hasn't sung the hit as yet but she could be the one responsible for singing Parton's "9 to 5" on season two of FOX's The Masked Singer. This is still speculation but fans have surmised that the 75-year-old icon is the one behind the voice.

Transcription courtesy of People.com