Kenny & Dolly Tease Fans With Flirty Performance Of ‘Real Love’

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While fans may have never been able to see a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton romance fully play out, their on-stage flirtation was more than enough to mesmerize the nation.

The two country legends teased their fans over their “will they won’t they” flirtation-ship in a dazzling performance of “Real Love.”

American Country musicians Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers (1938 – 2020) perform together onstage at Brendan Byrne Arena (later Meadowlands Arena), East Rutherford, New Jersey, October 20, 1988. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

The duet explains how their relationship is “real love” and “not infatuation.” The two have maintained a three-decade-long friendship that never went beyond flirtation, although they admit it was a massive flirtation.

“We flirted with each other for 30 years, and it was much more than electric,” Rogers told AXS TV in an interview. He explains how they didn’t want to wreck their friendship that became such an immense part of each of their lives by crossing the line between flirting and something more. “We did some massive flirting in front of the nation,” continues Rogers. “But there was never anything more than that.”

Launching ‘Planet Texas’ Kenny Rogers (R), Dolly Parton (C), and Willie Nelson boosted the spirits of 15,000 NASA employees and families with a concert at the Johnson Space Center. The concert was the first time the three had performed together. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

Their electrifying friendship is more apparent than ever in the music video for “Real Love,” which exemplifies all the good times they experienced with each other over the years. Kenny and Dolly recorded the duet in 1985 and it hit number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

RELATED: Kenny Rogers And Dolly Parton Perform ‘Islands In The Stream’ At Farewell Concert

Watch their performance below and prepare to fall in love with them all over again!

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About the Author

Jennifer Pernicano

Hi! I'm Jen, a Southern California-based country music fan. One of my favorite things to do is go to a country concert and experience the art of storytelling in person. There truly is nothing else like it!

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