Throwback to When Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Gifted Us the “Most Beautiful Duet Ever”

While passing away back in 2020 at the age of 81, Kenny Rogers continues to entertain fans all over the world thanks to his rich legacy in country music. Throughout his career, the singer not only sold more than 100 million albums but he produced iconic songs like “Islands in the Stream.” Besides winning numerous awards and landing a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rogers loved to collaborate with other stars like Dottie West, Sheena Easton, and Lionel Richie. But among all his collaborations, his performance with Dolly Parton in 1985 might be one of his best.

Having sparked a friendship back in 1983 when Rogers released “Islands in the Stream”, the country singer enjoyed his time with Dolly. And just two years later, they recorded “Real Love”, which dominated the charts. Their chemistry on stage was so infectious that they even embarked on a small tour in 1985 that included an HBO concert special. And that same year, Rogers thrilled fans when he welcomed Dolly to the stage to perform “We Got Tonight.”

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Although taking place nearly 40 years ago, fans continued to gush over the performance. When uploaded to YouTube, the video gained over 28 million views. Comments included, “Who is still watching these two legends? I don’t think I will ever get tired of their professional music products. May God rest Kenny in eternal peace.” Another comment read, “Those three actions together, that mic drop, the lip bite, and head tilt as soon as Kenny hears the first note sung by Dolly that make this iconic performance ever more extraordinary! “Fly high” Kenny.”

Arguably the grandest statement of them all come from one fan who claimed “That has got to be the MOST BEAUTIFUL DUET EVER. I just love Dolly’s entrance and the crowds reaction, gives me goosebumps every time.”

[RELATED: What Dolly Parton Thought of Being Called the “Female Elvis”]

The One Song Kenny Rogers Almost Tossed Away If Not For Dolly Parton

Outside of their time on stage, Rogers once discussed the impact Dolly had on his career when he almost tossed “Islands in the Stream” to the side. Back in 2013, Rogers discussed the history around the iconic song with Taste of Country. He admitted he didn’t care much for the song at the time. Thankfully, Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees was nearby and offered a suggestion – “What we need is Dolly Parton.”

As if fate, the manager of Rogers happened to see her downstairs at the time. “So I said, ‘Go get her and bring her back.’” Rogers continued, “So he brought her back in, and once she came in, that song was never the same. She lit it up and we became good friends from that point on.”

(Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)