Dolly Parton Opened Up About The Time She Turned Down Elvis, And Why It Broke Her Heart

Few can compete with Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley when it comes to fame. Both singers dazzled on stage and screen, amassing a flock of admirers by the time their paths crossed in the 1970s. But not many people are aware of how the two artists interacted – and why it ended in bitter rejection for The King himself.

Always got what he wanted

By the time Dolly had her first hit album in 1967, Elvis had already been famous for years. He achieved his first number-one single in “Heartbreak Hotel,” which was all across the radio in 1956. A slew of hit songs followed, making him the star of the rock ’n’ roll scene – and a sought-after movie and TV star, too. In other words, it was a rarity to see The King rejected.

“I do”

And by 1967 both Elvis and Dolly had committed to their respective partners. He wed Priscilla Beaulieu that year, and Dolly got hitched to Carl Thomas Dean – to whom she remains married – in 1966. But the famous halves of each couple came together in the 1970s. It was a meeting that left the songstress heartbroken for decades to come.

Reduced to tears

After turning down Elvis, Dolly admitted that she had sobbed for hours. In fact, according to NME, it was an entire night of heartache. She admitted, “I cried all night long, ‘cause I was so disappointed... I loved Elvis. And I’m sure he was as disappointed as I was because he had it all worked up and ready to go.”

Can’t let go

The pain of rejecting The King still hurts Dolly to this day. She’s said that she wished she could have had just one more conversation with Elvis to smooth things over. The songwriter has even said that she would tell him, “I still dream about you singing that song.” But what led to this great heartbreak Dolly has yet to let go?