Kenny Rogers Remembered With CMT Special

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CMT celebrated the life and music of Kenny Rogers last night with the special “CMT GIANTS Kenny Rogers: A Benefit For MusiCares,” featuring a slew of artists performing Kenny’s hits from their homes.

In addition to the tributes, the show, hosted by Rita Wilson, featured archival footage of performances by Kenny, as well as interviews with stars reminiscing about the legend, including Dolly Parton who shared her favorite memory of Kenny.

The special also served to raise money for MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Among the night’s highlights:

• Lady Antebelum performed the Kenny and Dolly hit duet “Island in the Stream.”
• Gavin Degraw performed the tender ballad “We’ve Got Tonight.”
• Jennifer Nettles shared her take on “Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer,” which Kenny recorded with Kim Carnes
• Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires performed “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town,” with a Kenny tour jacket from 1981 hanging on a microphone stand.
• Dolly Parton played what she called her favorite Kenny song, “Sweet Music Man.”
• Michael McDonald performed “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”
• Randy Houser paid tribute with Kenny’s signature tune “The Gambler”
• Vince Gill performed “The Rock of Your Love,” which was one of his songs that Kenny recorded.
• Rascal Flatts shared their take on the love song “Through The Years.”
• The night ended with Kenny's good friend Lionel Richie, who talked about a song he wrote called “Goodbye,” which Kenny decided he wanted to record. Lionel then introduced Kenny’s version of the song, as Kenny’s final goodbye “to all of us.” It played over a montage of pictures of Kenny.
• ONE MORE THING! At the end of the show producers added an acknowledgement of the death of John Prine, who passed away Tuesday. "We mourne the loss of legendar singer/songwriter John Prrine," it read. "Our hearts are with his family, friends and fans."