Rogers has been married five times, whileParton has been married to Carl Dean for decades (via People). Talk about a touching, meaningful moment no wonder Rogers held the incredible memory so close to his heart! He was a Country Music Hall of Famer and three-time GRAMMY Award winner. Parton paid tribute to her friend this week with a performance during CMT GIANTS Kenny Rogers: A Benefit For MusiCares, where she sang "Sweet Music Man." Binge-worthy entertainment news and celebrity interviews. The pair's friendship began in the 1970s when both were starting out their careers in Nashville. We're so sorry for your loss, Dolly. It would have ruined a friendship, Rogers said on CBS This Morning. Kennys family had reported his passing saying he died peacefully at home. Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers In 1974 Parton discontinued her work with Wagoner to launch a solo career, in which she enjoyed immediate success: in both 1975 and '76 she was chosen female singer of the year by the Country Music Association (CMA) on the strength of such songs as " Jolene" and "Love Is Like a Butterfly" (both 1974). There's a reason that Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers never dated, as it turns out. Their friendship began when they both began their careers in Nashville in the 1970s. As A Taste of Country reported, Dolly Parton was, of course, present for the farewell tour. Did Dolly Parton attend Kenny Rogers Funeral? But I loved Kenny with all my heart and my hearts broken and a big ole chunk has gone with him today., Referencing one of her own hits, Parton added: I think that I can speak for all his family, his friends, his fans, when I say that I will always love you.. Kenny Rogers career spanned more than six decades starting in the 1960s. In fact, even though the pair were never romantically involved, they still regard each other as soulmates. Gordon went on to explain that Rogers had been open about his feelings and intentions at the time. Rogers died. Market data provided by Factset. When it comes to country music, few stars are more iconic than Dolly Parton. "I'm a believer that tension is better if you keep it than if you satisfy it," Rogers explained. ", Rogers also feels the same was that Parton does about their connection. Kenny Rogers' ex-wife Marianne Gordon was by his side from 1977 to 1993. He loves writing about pop culture, trending topics, LGBTQ issues, style and all things drag. Curious to learn more about what really went on between this legendary music duo? On March 20, 2020, Dolly woke up to learn her longtime singing partner and cherished friend, Kenny Rogers had passed away. He was featured on 30 number-one hits. There is sexual tension and teasing each other and it would screw it up., However, Gordon admitted she did suspect Parton of being capable of making a move on Rogers. They both came to my grandad's funeral. "I think that I can speak for all his family, his friends, his fans, when I say that I will always love you," Dolly Parton said of her duet partner (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images), Legendary country singer Kenny Rogers dies at 81. Is it true that Dolly Parton sold Dollywood? 4. Perhaps that masculine energy isone of the reasons Dolly Parton never had kids. Prior to her new position, she was the Senior News and Entertainment Editor for the brand, covering and editing all things in the entertainment, pop culture and celebrity world forGood Housekeeping. - April 10, 2020 09:38 am EDT, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were friends for decades and recorded several duets over the years, which means the two stars have a whole lot of memories together, both on stage and off. How did Dolly Parton feel when Kenny Rogers died? What a sweet and incredibly important book end for their long journey as a musical duo. They look forward to celebrating Kennys life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date, the statement continued. Musicians Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton attend The RP Foundation Fighting Blindness Humanitarian Award Dinner Honoring Frank Bennack, Jr. on April 19, 1988 at The Grand Ballroom, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, New York. ", Dolly continued: "But I loved Kenny with all my heart. When I listened to [Jamaican radio station] Irie FM in the late '80s and early '90s, they played a lot of American music, as well as country music from Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. I can never sing. Along with Jan Howard and Joe Diffie, who we also lost in March. It was on these trips that Parton and Rogers' friendship truly solidified. Rogers died peacefully at age 81 in March in Sandy Springs, Ga. due to natural causes. He was 81. The Duo's Collaboration on "Islands in the Stream" was . R. Diamond // Getty Images. Naturally, Rogers was a little taken aback by the morbid comment! Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' final duet was a touching, heartfelt song about an old friendship called "You Can't Make Old Friends." "I knew he wasnt doing well, but it was just like I lost someone so close to me, it just broke my heart." Kenny said Ill do it, and Ill never forget it. Fly high, straight into the arms of God. No wonder it was one of Kenny Rogers' favorite songs he ever did. She later said, "Kenny, of course, says he's retiring." She said: "Well, I couldn't believe it. The song offers an inspirational message that some may like to believe their deceased loved ones would share: life is God's greatest gift, and we should cherish it by always striving to share our love with others. "Well, I couldn't believe it this morning when I got up and turned on the TV, checking to see what the coronavirus was doing, and they told me that my friend and singing partner Kenny Rogers had passed away," Parton, 74, began in her video message to her nearly 5 million Twitter followers. "It just shocked me and I was very emotional about it for several days, and now I've kind of put it in a peaceful place, knowing that he's at peace. Though rumors have surrounded their marriage, specifically that it isnt strictly monogamous, she revealed that sleeping with other people is disallowed by their rules. Shes one of those rare people that if she walked in the door and I hadnt seen her in five years, it would be like we were together yesterday.". Long before Dolly Parton who's undergone a stunning transformation and Kenny Rogers were a classic country music duo, they were simply solo artists at the beginning of their burgeoning careers. .css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;}Dolly Parton is mourning the loss of her good friend, the legendary Kenny Rogers. Parton serenades a rapt Rogers with her signature "I Will Always Love You," and then the two top the show with what is the final performance of their classic "Islands in the Stream."It will no doubt be a memorable moment for TV viewers, as it was the live audience, but four years removed from the event, perhaps the . Although Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers had not been close friends in recent years, she did attend his funeral in April 2020. On Sunday (March 20) a small group of the Country Music Hall of Fame member's close friends, family and band members gathered at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia to pay their respects. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. Despite their differing schedules, it's evident that the pair had great synergy when they were on the road! "The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25 p.m. at the age of 81," his representative said. Marianne Gordon, Rogers fourth wife, said people actually asked her if there was something romantic going on between her then-husband and Parton. In 2017, the duo sat down with TODAY's Dylan Dreyer to talk about their friendship. Its entered my mind because she always said she thought like a man., But she added, I dont mean it badly. In 2017, Kenny Rogers finally said goodbye to the music industry, giving one final tour before retirement. Rogers also called Parton a "special person," and said that she occupies a special place in his heart. In the song, Parton and Rogers sing about what life would be like if the other was gone. Just happened to have this picture of us when I walked out this morning and I thought well, maybe Ill hold that up to everybody, she said. Dolly Parton once described her duet partner Kenny Rogers as "like a brother", but when his funeral comes she will remain silent after making a vow not to sing at the ceremony.. in the same way Why was Kenny Rogers in hospice? What scars Does Dolly Parton have? #DollyParton "Everybody was like family," she gushed. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images), "And I know that we all know Kenny is in a better place than we are today but I'm for sure he's going to be talking to God sometime today, if ain't already, and he's going to be asking him to spread some light on this darkness going on here. "Well, I couldn't believe it. Kenny Rogers passed away at the age of 81 years old, but Dolly Parton says she was surprised by his passing. Today we all mourn the loss of one of the greatest. Then Parton chimed in, saying, "We were almost like brother and sister, and it would almost be like incest." Holding back tears, Parton held up a framed photograph of the pair together. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed in the . Plus, both singers had pretty eventful love lives of their own. Shes also worked as a social editor for House Beautiful and had previous writing stints at Redbook,CosmopolitanandSeventeen. My heart's broken. Since their fatedmeeting in in the '70s, Rogers and Parton have collaborated on a series of duets, and have appeared on stage together on dozens of occasions. They look forward to celebrating Kennys life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date., Copyright Gordon and Rogers split in 1993 but she said she believed him when he told her that he never had a sexual relationship with his famous duet partner. Kenny Rogers, whose death was announced today, said that teaming up with Dolly Parton was the most exciting achievement of his career ALAMY Dolly Parton once described her duet partner. "She came marching into the room, and once she came in and started singing, the song was never the same. Dolly Parton paid tribute to her friend and fellow country artist Kenny Rogers with a sweet acoustic cover during Wednesday night's "CMT Giants" memorial concert special. You never know what she's going to say, but it always comes from love. Dolly Parton didn't sell Dollywood. You know what, we were almost like brother and sister, Parton explained. I never felt uncomfortable at all. Please, Kenny Rogers, whose death was announced today, said that teaming up with Dolly Parton was the most exciting achievement of his career. When Rogers appeared on the Bobby Bones Show, he told a funny story about how their special friendship worked. one of Kenny Rogers' favorite songs he ever did. Kenny Rogers died of natural causes on March 20. 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