Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty
It’s been nearly three years since the world lostKenny Rogers, but his dear friend and musical partnerDolly Partonstill thinks of him often.
“I miss him so much,” Parton, 77, tells PEOPLE in a recent interview about her dear friend, whodied of natural causes at 81 in March of 2020. “I’ve lost so many wonderful people in my life in the last few years. But Kenny — he was very, very dear and special and I never get tired of hearing us sing, all the years that we were on stage together.”
One of the songs that Parton says she has the best memories of singing with Rogers on is “Islands in the Stream,” the dynamic duet that gave the pair a No. 1 hit on the pop charts in 1983.
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.Invision/AP/Shutterstock
“[We recorded that song] just in time too, honestly,” says Parton, referring to the fact that Rogers officially retired for health reasons in 2018. “And now I can’t hardly sing it.”
Indeed, the song’s message has never rung truer to Parton as it does now.
“Youcanmake new friends thatfeellike old friends, but there’s just something about the people that have spent years together,” Parton explains during an interview touting hernew line of box mix Duncan Hines treats. “You have a history, and youlearnabout each other, inside and out. I knew Kennyverywell. We’re very similar. We’re like brother and sister really.”
She draws in a deep breath.
“He’s up there singing,” she says quietly. “I know that.”
Dolly Parton.JB Rowland, courtesy Dolly Parton
Nevertheless, Parton herself always seems to be busy making new friends, as she iscurrently working on a new albumthat has her collaborating with a slew of legendary artists such asElton John,Paul McCartneyandStevie Nicks. The country music hitmaker alsorecently announced plans to collaborate for the first timewith fellow musical legend Dionne Warwick on a gospel duet entitled ‘Peace Like a River."
“I’ve done a lot of iconic songs with a lot of iconic singers,” says Parton, whose solo career has included 26 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country charts, including “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You” and “9 to 5.”
And according to Parton, there is no better time than the present for her to partake in these sorts of collaborations.
“I might as well do everything I could possibly cram into this year,” Parton, who wasinducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in November, tells PEOPLE with a laugh. “I’m not one to let time go to waste. I’m not one to let anything valuable go to waste if I can help it.”
source: people.com
