Four decades after Dolly Parton denied Elvis Presley the rights to “I Will Always Love You,” a 13-year-old Austrian girl took the ballad and made it all hers.
The “forbidden” song – introduced by Whitney Houston to a new generation in 1992 – was flawlessly performed by Laura Kamhuber on The Voice Kids, blind auditions.
And she left the judges temporarily speechless.
Keep reading to learn more about the young girl’s audition that has 226 million views on YouTube!
In 1974, Elvis Presley made a play for Dolly Parton’s hit song “I Will Always Love You,” that she released the same year.
If Parton agreed to the terms, it meant she’d have to give up half the publishing royalties to the country song that she wrote when ending her professional relationship with long-time partner Porter Wagoner.
And though Presley was her hero, she couldn’t bring herself to sign.
“Something in my heart says, ‘Don’t do that.’ And I just didn’t do it,” she said in an interview with CMT. “But I always wondered what it would sound like. I know he’d kill it…He would have killed it. But anyway, so he didn’t. Then when Whitney [Houston’s version] came out, I made enough money to buy Graceland.”
Topping the charts in 1992
In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded a pop ballad of the same song for the film The Bodyguard, where she starred opposite Kevin Costner. The song was a global success and with over 20 million copies sold, the ballad became the best-selling single of all time by a female soloist.
To this date, Celine Dion is the only other woman to hold a spot in the top 10, with 18 million sold for “My Heart Will Go On.”
And in 2012, when pop diva died, the “Jolene” singer joined the chorus of grieving stars, saying in a statement, “I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.’”
‘Forbidden song’
The next year, 13-year-old Laura Kamhuber stepped on the stage for a blind audition of The Voice Kids, and after flawlessly belting out “I Will Always Love You,” she left the judges gobsmacked.
The young Austrian, competing on the German edition of the popular singing competition, earned the praise of all three judges, who turned their chairs for the opportunity to coach the middle schooler.
After her spine-tingling performance, German pop star Tim Bendzko told Kamhuber that she had just sang “the forbidden song.” Referring to Houston’s range of vocals that are hard to match, he joked: “you’re not actually allowed to sing this song because it’s unsingable.”
Bendzko adds, “You just sang it sensationally. It was incredible.”
Though Kamhuber, now 24, was later eliminated in the show’s knockout battles, her iconic audition has 226 million views and is the most watched YouTube video by an Austrian artist.
Since, the woman, who goes by the stage name Laura Lun, released three albums, her latest in 2017 that features pop, country and ballads.
Take a listen to Laura Kamhuber’s audition and let us know what you think!
Four decades after Dolly Parton famously refused to let Elvis Presley record her hit song “I Will Always Love You,” a 13-year-old Austrian girl named Laura Kamhuber stepped onto the stage of The Voice Kids and delivered a jaw-dropping performance of the same song. The ballad, which was already a timeless classic thanks to Whitney Houston’s powerful rendition in 1992, found new life in Laura’s flawless audition. Her performance left the judges speechless and has since captivated millions worldwide.
The history of this iconic song is filled with fascinating stories. In 1974, Elvis Presley approached Dolly Parton about recording “I Will Always Love You,” but his deal required Parton to give up half of her publishing royalties. Despite her admiration for Presley, Parton refused, trusting her instincts. It was a decision she later said she never regretted, especially after Whitney Houston’s version of the song topped the charts in 1992 and became one of the best-selling singles of all time by a female artist. As Parton humorously put it, “I made enough money to buy Graceland.”
Fast forward to 2013, when Laura Kamhuber stepped onto the stage of The Voice Kids Germany. Taking on Whitney Houston’s version of the song—often deemed “unsingable” by vocal experts—was no small feat. Yet, Kamhuber’s performance was nothing short of stunning, earning her praise from all three judges, who turned their chairs to fight for the chance to coach her. German pop star Tim Bendzko even called it the “forbidden song” because it’s so notoriously difficult to sing. He admitted that Laura’s rendition was “sensational” and “incredible.”
Though Laura was eventually eliminated from the competition during the knockout rounds, her audition became an internet sensation, racking up a staggering 226 million views on YouTube. Her performance remains the most-watched YouTube video by an Austrian artist, and she has since continued her musical career under the stage name Laura Lun. Now 24, she has released three albums, with her latest work in 2017 featuring a mix of pop, country, and ballads.
Laura’s journey from The Voice Kids stage to becoming a recording artist is a testament to her talent and passion. Her spine-tingling rendition of “I Will Always Love You” continues to resonate with listeners around the world, proving that this iconic song still has the power to move new generations.
If you haven’t heard Laura Kamhuber’s unforgettable audition, take a listen and let us know your thoughts!
