In the early hours of a morning in 1974, Merle Haggard made an unusual phone call to Dolly Parton’s home. Merle Haggard had been writing songs through the night and wanted Dolly Parton to hear what had just been written.
There was only one problem. Dolly Parton was asleep.
Merle Haggard asked the woman who answered the telephone to wake Dolly Parton anyway. The story, which Merle Haggard later shared in an interview with Ralph Emery, became one of the more memorable accounts behind a major country hit of the 1970s.
And the song at the center of that story was “Always Wanting You.”
How Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton Became Close
By 1974, Merle Haggard was already one of country music’s biggest stars. Dolly Parton was building an increasingly successful solo career after years of performing alongside Porter Wagoner.
The two artists had developed a friendship through their work together. Merle Haggard recorded Dolly Parton’s composition “Kentucky Gambler,” which became a No. 1 country hit in early 1975. Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard also appeared together on tour during this period.
But Merle Haggard’s feelings for Dolly Parton had grown beyond professional admiration.
In the autobiography Sing Me Back Home: My Own Story, Merle Haggard openly discussed those feelings. Dolly Parton was married to Carl Dean, and a romantic relationship was not something Dolly Parton wished to pursue.
Merle Haggard understood that the feelings could not lead to the relationship Merle Haggard wanted. Still, the experience gave Merle Haggard something familiar to country songwriters: a deeply personal subject for a song.
The Night Two Songs Were Written
During an appearance on On the Record with Ralph Emery, Merle Haggard remembered being at Harrah’s in Nevada, around 1974.
After finishing work, Merle Haggard spent the night writing two songs inspired by Dolly Parton. One was “Always Wanting You.” The other was “I’ve Got a Yearning.”
Both songs expressed feelings Merle Haggard had been carrying during that period.
By approximately 3:30 a.m. local time, Merle Haggard wanted Dolly Parton to hear the new material.
Merle Haggard called Dolly Parton’s home. A woman answered and explained that Dolly Parton was sleeping. Merle Haggard asked for Dolly Parton to be awakened.
The woman hesitated, understandably reluctant to disturb someone at such an early hour. But Merle Haggard insisted that Dolly Parton would want to hear the song.
Eventually, Dolly Parton came to the telephone.
Decades later, Merle Haggard could still recall the circumstances of that unusual call. Rather than keeping the inspiration private, Merle Haggard spoke openly about the story behind the music.
Two Songs, One Record, and a No. 1 Hit
What makes the story especially interesting is that both compositions eventually appeared on the same record.
On February 3, 1975, Capitol Records released “Always Wanting You” as a single by Merle Haggard and The Strangers. The other song written about Dolly Parton, “I’ve Got a Yearning,” appeared on the B-side.
The single carried the catalog number Capitol 4027.
So the two songs Merle Haggard remembered writing during one emotional night ended up sharing the two sides of a 45-rpm record.
Then came the commercial success.
On April 12, 1975, “Always Wanting You” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles chart. The recording remained at the top for two consecutive weeks and became Merle Haggard’s twentieth No. 1 country single.
The song also appeared on the album Keep Movin’ On, further strengthening Merle Haggard’s remarkable run of hits during the 1970s.
What Dolly Parton Meant to the Song
The story has sometimes been presented as a dramatic romance between two country legends. The documented history is more restrained.
Merle Haggard acknowledged having strong feelings for Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton valued the friendship but did not pursue a romantic relationship.
That distinction matters because the lasting result was not a romance. It was music.
“Always Wanting You” gave Merle Haggard a way to express feelings that could not become the relationship Merle Haggard hoped for. Listeners did not need to know the personal circumstances to connect with the recording.
The familiar themes of longing and unreturned affection were enough.
The Story Behind a Country Classic
More than fifty years after its release, “Always Wanting You” remains part of Merle Haggard’s celebrated catalog.
For longtime country fans, the song may bring back memories of hearing Merle Haggard on the radio in 1975. For others, discovering the connection to Dolly Parton adds another dimension to a familiar recording.
And there is one small detail that makes the history especially memorable.
Merle Haggard wrote two songs about Dolly Parton during one night, called before dawn to share the music, and eventually released both compositions on opposite sides of the same record.
One of those songs went all the way to No. 1.
It began with feelings Merle Haggard wanted Dolly Parton to understand. It became a recording that country music listeners would remember for generations.