Dolly Parton is basically a walking masterclass in business. We all know her for the big hair, the rhinestone-encrusted outfits, and that unmistakable mountain trill, but behind the scenes? She’s a steel trap. If you’ve ever found yourself humming along to Dolly Parton But You Know I Love You, you’re actually listening to one of the rare moments where the Queen of Country let someone else hold the pen on a chart-topping hit.
Most people assume she writes everything. Honestly, it’s a fair assumption. She’s penned over 5,000 songs. But this track, which hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1981, has a history that stretches back to the late sixties.
Where the song actually came from
It wasn’t a Dolly original. Mike Settle wrote it. You might recognize that name because he was part of Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. They released the song back in 1968, and it was a decent pop hit for them. Fast forward over a decade, and Dolly was smack in the middle of her "9 to 5" era.
She was crossing over. Hard.
Her 1980 album 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs was a massive concept project. It was all about the grind. The work. The struggle of the everyday person. While the title track became a workplace anthem for the ages, she chose Dolly Parton But You Know I Love You as the second single. It fit the theme perfectly. It's a song about being on the road, the "odd job" of a traveling musician, and the guilt of leaving a lover behind while chasing a career.
👉 See also: Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The genius of Dolly’s business brain
People always bring up the Elvis story when they talk about Dolly's career. It's legendary for a reason. Elvis Presley wanted to record "I Will Always Love You." Dolly was over the moon. Who wouldn't be? But then Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s notorious manager, called her the night before the session.
He demanded half the publishing rights.
Dolly said no. She cried all night, but she said no. She knew that song was the "inheritance" for her family. Decades later, when Whitney Houston covered it for The Bodyguard, Dolly made enough in royalties to buy a whole strip mall in a Nashville neighborhood.
She's smart. She knows when to hold onto her rights and when to record a cover like Dolly Parton But You Know I Love You because it just fits the mood of an album.
✨ Don't miss: Jeremy Renner Accident Recovery: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Why this track stood out in 1981
Musically, the song is a bit of a departure from the "Jolene" days. It’s got that early 80s gloss. Produced by Mike Post (the guy who did the Law & Order theme, weirdly enough), it has this driving, steady beat that feels like a bus moving down a highway at 2 AM.
- It hit #1 on the country charts.
- It crossed over to #41 on the Hot 100.
- It features some of the best session players in the business, including Leland Sklar on bass.
The lyrics hit differently when Dolly sings them. When she says, "I'm just a-trav'lin' on this morning / And I'm a-missin' you," you believe it. She’s spent more time on a tour bus than almost anyone in history. She knows the weight of that suitcase.
Misconceptions about her 80s era
Some purists hated this period. They thought she was "too Hollywood." They saw the movies and the pop production and figured she'd forgotten the Smokey Mountains.
They were wrong.
🔗 Read more: Kendra Wilkinson Photos: Why Her Latest Career Pivot Changes Everything
Everything she did in the 80s, including recording Dolly Parton But You Know I Love You, was a calculated move to gain total independence. By becoming a global superstar, she could fund things like Dollywood and the Imagination Library. She wasn't selling out; she was buying in.
What to do next if you're a fan
If you’ve only ever heard the radio edits, go back and listen to the full 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs album. It’s a tight, cohesive look at American labor through the lens of Nashville.
Look for the live versions of this track from her 80s TV specials. The arrangement usually gets a bit more "country" when she performs it live without the studio sheen.
Check out Mike Settle’s original version with Kenny Rogers. It’s wild to hear how a folk-pop song from 1968 transformed into a polished country-pop chart-topper thirteen years later. It’s a testament to a great melody and, more importantly, to Dolly’s ear for a hit that matches her life.