It doesn’t get more country than this! Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers teamed up for a performance of Nelson’s “Blue Skies” as part of an NBC special.
“One of my favorite albums that you ever recorded, and obviously one of theirs as well, is the Stardust album,” Rogers told Nelson before the performance. “You did a song called ‘Blue Skies,’ which happens to be one of my favorite songs.”
Their performance went on to win a prime-time Emmy for “Outstanding Sound Mixing in a Variety or Music Series.” The television special Something Inside So Strong also featured Dolly Parton.
“Blue skies smiling at me/ Nothing but blue skies/ Do I see bluebirds singing together,” sings Nelson while Rogers plays the upright bass.https://classiccountrymusic.com/willie-nelson-teams-up-with-kacey-musgraves-for-2019-cma-awards-performance-of-rainbow-connection/ “Singing a song/ Nothing but bluebirds all day long.”
“Blue Skies” was originally composed by Irving Berlin in 1926 and recorded by Nelson over five decades later in 1978. The song was a massive success on an international scale, charting in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand and topping Billboard’s Hot Country Songs.
“Blue Skies” has been covered by countless artists, including Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, Ella Fitzgerald, Alessandro Juliani, and more.
You can watch the duet below.
