Something Special

Dolly Parton released her thirty-third solo studio album, Something Special, on August 22, 1995. The project arrived via Columbia Records and Blue Eye Records with a clear goal of blending seven original songs with three reworked classics. Producers Steve Buckingham guided the sessions to create a sound that felt rooted in tradition yet polished enough for the mid-90s market.

The record's centerpiece remains the duet of "I Will Always Love You" alongside Vince Gill. This version marked Parton's third recording of the ballad following her 1973 demo and the massive 1992 hit from The Bodyguard soundtrack. The collaboration reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and won the Country Music Association's Vocal Event of the Year award. At the time, this single represented Parton's highest-charting entry on the country charts in four years. [edit]