Carly Pearce & Parker McCollum Unite For Playful “Islands In The Stream” Duet During ACM Honors
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“Islands in the Stream” always gets the party going! So it was the perfect song to kick off the 2026 ACM Honors on Wednesday night (August 19).
Unlike the main ACM Awards, which are televised and primarily honor artists, the ACM Honors is a smaller event that recognizes a mix of artists, songwriters, and other industry figures. The ACM Honors have been televised in the past, but it remains unknown if this year’s event will get its own TV special.
Carly Pearce returned to host the ceremony for the sixth time. She was joined by a brand-new co-host, Parker McCollum.
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Pearce and McCollum pulled double duty as both hosts and performers. They opened the ceremony with a lively, playful performance of “Islands in the Stream,” famously sung by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers in 1983.
“Islands in the Stream” was a #1 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart and the all-genre Hot 100 chart. It became Parton and Rogers’ second crossover chart-topper, following Parton’s “9 to 5” and Rogers’ “Lady.”
In 2005, when CMT put together a poll to rank the best country music duets of all time, “Islands in the Stream” claimed the #1 spot on the list.
Pearce and McCollum were honoring Parton with their ACM Honors duet, as she was one of the recipients of the Poet’s Award this Year. However, she was unable to attend the event due to some ongoing health issues, but she sent in a video to acknowledge the honor.
Although the ACM Honors weren’t televised, some attendees filmed Pearce and McCollum singing “Islands in the Stream.” You can watch two videos of their performance below.
@tennessee_teri #carlypearce #parkermccollum #acmhonors2026 ♬ original sound – tennessee_teri
@kasey.shea311 @parkermccollum Islands in the Stream #acmhonors2026 #parkermccollum ♬ original sound – kasey.shea311
“Islands In The Stream” Wasn’t The Only Dolly Parton Song Showcased At The 2026 ACM Honors
Later in the evening, Carly Pearce returned to the stage for another Dolly Parton-themed collaboration. She joined Carter Faith and Kaitlin Butts in singing Parton’s “9 to 5.”
The song choice was extra fitting, as “9 to 5” just received some new certifications. Earlier on August 19, Parton’s team announced that she had earned 82 new global sales certifications across 14 countries.
RELATED: DOLLY PARTON CUTS RIBBON, OFFICIALLY OPENS HER TENNESSEE TRAVEL STOP
“9 to 5” has now achieved Diamond status in Canada. Additionally, the song earned new Platinum certifications in the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Austria, Australia, and South Africa. Plus, it was certified Gold in Mexico and Finland.
On that note, “Islands in the Stream” also earned several new Platinum certifications, with those titles coming from the Netherlands, the UK, New Zealand, Denmark, and Austria.
Needless to say, August 19 was a big day for Dolly Parton! Watch the video below to hear Carly Pearce, Carter Faith, and Kaitlin Butts celebrate her with their “9 to 5” performance at the ACM Honors.
@juangoesto 9-5 this classic #acmhonors #nashville #dollyparton @ACM Awards ♬ original sound – JUAN
