Dolly Parton And Kenny Rogers’ Final Performance Of “Islands In The Stream” Resurfaces
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With the passing of country music icon Dolly Parton, who was celebrated for her decades of artistry and philanthropy, let’s take a look back at a significant farewell performance.
The year was 2017, and Kenny Rogers was performing his farewell concert, dubbed “All In For The Gambler.”
There, he was joined by none other than Dolly to reprise one of their biggest hits, the 1983 song “Islands In The Stream.”
RELATED: Kenny Rogers’ Family Reflects On The “Painstakingly Hard” Loss Of Dolly Parton
Watch Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Perform Their Final Duet Together Of “Islands In The Stream”
Kenny Rogers, who died at the age of 81 in 2020, gave his farewell concert in 2017, performing at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Tonight is as much about me saying ‘thank you’ as it is ‘goodbye,'” Kenny Rogers told the audience.
Accompanied by Dolly Parton, she then declared, “I can’t think of anybody I would rather sail away with.”
The two then sang one of their most beloved duets, which was penned by the Bee Gees and recorded for Kenny Rogers’ 1983 album, Eyes That See In The Dark.
In a 2017 interview with People Magazine, that was quoted by Blackbird Presents, Kenny Rogers recalled how the duet came about, saying, “It all started when Barry Gibb wrote ‘Islands in the Stream,’ and he gave it to me to record — he was producing an album.”
Listening to the song for four days after recording it on his own, Kenny said he felt the song was missing something, and Kenny recalled, “I finally said, ‘Barry, I don’t even like this song anymore’ and he said, ‘You know what we need? We need Dolly Parton.’”
Parton happened to be in the studio nearby for another project, and Kenny said, “Once she came in and started singing, the song was never the same. It took on a personality of its own.”
They would go on to perform the song together on several occasions, but that last performance in 2017 was particularly special.
Now, nine years after that final duet performance, Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80.
On Aug. 25, when Dolly’s family announced she had passed away, Kenny Rogers’ family released a statement, writing, “It’s painstakingly hard to put into words what you meant to Kenny…and to all of us.”
Kenny’s family then wrote:
“When the two of you sang about being islands in the stream who together had found peace unknown, having real love for each other as true friends who would always stand by each other, and how you just can’t make old friends, it was always as genuine as it could possibly be…coming straight from the heart and reflecting what you both felt for each other.”
His family added, “Saying a simple, yet sincere thank you could never be enough for bringing so much joy, laughter, and amazing songs and stories into our lives.”
Take a look back at the duo’s final performance of “Islands In The Stream,” here:
Compare that final performance to their performance at the CMA Awards in 1983, the year the song was released, here:
RELATED: Dolly Parton’s First Gospel Album, ‘The Golden Streets Of Glory,’ Was Released 55 Years Ago
