More than 30 years after becoming the rhinestone standard for country duets, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton took the stage with each other one last time on Wednesday night.
Parton, 71, and Rogers, 79, performed in Nashville at the All In For The Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration at Bridgestone Arena, closing out the show. Rogers is suffering from an undisclosed illness and has chosen to officially retire from music.
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“How about me and you go out like rock stars?” Parton asked Rogers. The lifelong friends held their microphones out, dropped them and walked off stage arm-in-arm.
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Rogers watched as other artists like Lionel Richie, Kris Kristofferson, Chris Stapleton, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town performed his most famous songs throughout the night.
The three-time Grammy winner sat on a stool taking in the songs, as he has difficulty standing for long periods of time.
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Some members of the audience shed tears as Parton dedicated her iconic song I Will Always Love You to Rogers, saying, “I know I’m artificial, but I like to think my heart is real. I have a spot in my heart for you that’s never ever going to be touched by anybody else.”
Rogers then took a moment to thank the audience and all of the night’s performers before he and Parton performed Islands in the Stream together for the last time.
Rogers, a Country Music Hall of Fame member, has created more than 120 hit singles and sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
(Watch some footage of the farewell, above.)
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