"Love Is Like a Butterfly" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Dolly Parton and released in August 1974 as the first single and title track from the album Love Is Like a Butterfly. It was her overall fourth number one on the country chart as a solo artist (and her third consecutive number one). The single stayed at number one for one week and spent a total of twelve weeks on the country chart.
Personnel Dolly Parton — vocals Jimmy Colvard, Dave Kirby, Bruce Osbon, Bobby Thompson — guitars Bobby Dyson — bass Larrie Londin — drums Jerry Smith — piano Stu Basore — steel guitar The Lea Jane Singers — background vocals
Chart performance Chart (1974)Peakposition Australia (Kent Music Report) 55Canadian RPM Country Tracks2
Popular culture Parton used "Love Is Like a Butterfly" as the opening theme for her 1976–77 TV variety show Dolly! She also uses a butterfly as the "W" in the trade dress for her Dollywood theme park. A version sung by Clare Torry was used as the theme to 1978–83 BBC sitcom Butterflies. On November 27, 2012, Parton and Stephen Colbert performed it together on The Colbert Report.
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