Kenny & Dolly
THE BELOVED COUNTRY ICONS REUNITE FOR AN EMOTIONAL FAREWELL CONCERT
Country legend Dolly Parton joins her old friend Kenny Rogers for his heartfelt farewell tour!
“Dolly is the real deal.” —Kenny
Kenny Rogers admits that it will be hard to hold back the tears when Dolly Parton joins him onstage for their last performance together this fall. “Working with Dolly is always emotional because we have so much history together,” Kenny, who is retiring from touring, tells Closer exclusively.
The country superstar adds that his 30year friendship with Dolly has always been close to his heart. “Dolly is an old and dear friend,” confides Kenny, 78, who reveals the pair will perform their duets, including “Islands in the Stream” and “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” during All In for the Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration, taking place in Nashville on Oct. 25. “You either have old friends or you don’t,” he notes, “and I have always had a friend in Dolly. We have always supported each other and have mutual respect.”
Kenny reveals that Dolly first suggested creating this special one-night-only event when she heard that he was retiring after his current 200-date tour. “I told Dolly, ‘I am going to say goodbye and spend more time with my wife and kids,’” he confides. “So she replied, ‘It’s been 13 years since we sang onstage together. You cannot get out of town without us doing something.’ ”
“Performing with Kenny for the last time ever on October 25 is going to be emotional for both of us,” says Dolly, who will be paying tribute to her friend along with Alison Krauss, Idina Menzel, Little Big Town and more. “It’s going to be very special.”
— Louise A. Barile, with reporting by Ilyssa Panitz