 Denzel Washington called the director to recommend Butler. Washington and Butler had co-starred in a play called The Iceman Cometh. The former actor mentioned the latter interestingly. Washington and Lerman had not met before when the actor made the call. Washington tells Lerman, you're in for a surprise when you see the work ethic of this young man. During his later years, Elvis Presley would often collaborate with the R&B Gospel group The Sweet Inspirations. The group was founded by Sissy Houston and her sister, Lee Warwick. Sissy is the mother of Whitney Houston. Whitney would go on to become an award-winning singer and would have her biggest hit, I Will Always Love You, which was written and initially sung by Dolly Parton. Elvis wanted to record the song and Dolly was willing to allow him to record it. Unfortunately, Colonel Tom Parker told her for Elvis to record the song, she would have to relinquish the song's rights. She refused.