Introduction:
On Dolly Parton‘s third album In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad) from 1969, the title track told of her impoverished upbringing and the lessons she learned about what mattered in life—No amount of money could buy from me / The memories that I have of then. Growing up poor and raised by a single mother, Merle Haggard also connected to the song, and months before Parton released her version, he featured the song first on his 1968 album Mama Tried.
Years later, in the early ’70s, while she was touring around with country artists like Porter Wagoner, her then-mentor and collaborator, Parton also went on the road with Haggard. The two would often hang out on one another’s tour bus, playing cards and talking about the music business and life.
“My favorite image of America’s sweetheart is not all that glitter and show, but the kidlike creature who used to sit herself down on a pillow on the floor of my bus aisle, lay her head on my knees, and talk on and on about her dreams and that plan of hers to be a star,” recalled Haggard in his 1981 memoir Sing Me Back Home. “She was so sure of herself, so positive, and God, she just glowed with confidence and excitement.”
After spending more time with Parton, it didn’t take Haggard long to become smitten with the young country star, who was nine years younger. He also recorded another Parton song, “Kentucky Gambler,” for his 1975 album, Keep Movin’ On, which earned him his nineteenth No. 1 on the Country chart.
That same year, Parton released her original rendition of “Kentucky Gambler,” which she recorded in 1973 on her album The Bargain Store, in 1975. The song follows the story of a miner who left his family to gamble in Reno, Nevada, inspired by her grandfather’s gambling habit, and topped the Country chart. It was also Parton’s first No. 1 as a songwriter for another artist.
“I didn’t just fall in love with the image of Dolly Parton,” said Haggard. “Hell, I fell in love with that exceptional human being who lives underneath all that bunch of fluffy hair, fluttery eyelashes, and super boobs. I was like a schoolboy. I would have carved ‘Merle loves Dolly’ on every damn tree in the country if she’d asked me to.”
At the time, Haggard was married to Bonnie Owens, and Parton to Carl Dean since 1966. Parton would reject Haggard’s advances. In his book, He even recalled Parton once saying, “I’m married, Merle. Don’t you understand that I love Carl? I really do.”
Marriage still didn’t stop Haggard from falling in love with Parton. He even wrote a song for her, “Always Wanting You.” Once finished, Haggard called Parton at 3 a.m. to play it for her over the phone.
“I would have given anything to have seen her face,” said Haggard. “Then I’d know what she thought, what she felt about the song—and me. All I could do was stare into the black plastic receiver connecting us together. By the time I finished, my mind had canceled out on me. I don’t even remember what she said.”
Released on Haggard’s 1975 album Keep Movin’ On, “Always Wanting You” went to No. 1 on the Country chart. “I didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or flattered,” said Parton of Haggard’s love song to her.
The two remained friends long after their early touring days. Merle also appeared on Parton’s later ’80s television variety show Dolly. When Haggard died in 2016, Parton said, “We’ve lost one of the greatest writers and singers of all time. His heart was as tender as his love ballads. I loved him like a brother. Rest easy, Merle.”
Decades after his first crush on Parton, the love was still there for Haggard. In one of his final interviews before his death in 2016, he recalled their touring days in the early 1970s.
“Oh, she’s hot, isn’t she?” said Haggard. “She’s the most charismatic human being alive. She’s Marilyn Monroe with a guitar. She’d make Marilyn Monroe take the dirt road.”
Haggard added, “She and I toured America together in 1974–75. We worked all year. She was tremendous.”