Dolly Parton Honors Kenny Rogers with ‘Sweet Music Man’ on ‘CMT Giants’

Dolly Parton honored her longtime friend and frequent musical collaborator Kenny Rogers with a touching performance of his iconic song…

Andrew Wendowski

| Posted on

April 8, 2020

8:00 pm

Dolly Parton; Photo Courtesy CMT Giants

Dolly Parton honored her longtime friend and frequent musical collaborator Kenny Rogers with a touching performance of his iconic song “Sweet Music Man” during Wednesday’s CMT Giants Kenny Rogers: A Benefit for MusiCares.

Seated on a stool with candles surrounding her, Parton delivered an emotional rendition of the song.

Parton and Rogers have a long history and she, like many country music artists, were deeply sadden by Rogers’ passing. Upon his death, Parton shared a special video message in his honor.

“I loved Kenny with all my heart. My heart is broken. A big ‘ole chunk of it has gone with him today,” she said. “I think that I can speak for all his family, his friends and fans when I say that I will always love you.”

Rogers’ died of natural causes on Friday, March 20 at the age of 81.

The CMT Giants Kenny Rogers: A Benefit for MusiCares also included performances by Jennifer Nettles, Randy Houser, Dolly Parton and more. The broadcast also included rare photos, interviews and performances, with clips and commentary from Kenny Rogers himself.

Written by

Andrew Wendowski

Andrew Wendowski is the Founder and CEO of Music Mayhem. As a self-taught entrepreneur, he oversees content as the Editor-In-Chief for the independent brand. Wendowski, who splits time between Philadelphia, Penn., and Nashville, Tenn., has an extensive background in multimedia. Before launching Music Mayhem in 2014, he worked as a highly sought-after photojournalist and tour photographer, collaborating with such labels as Interscope Records and Republic Records. He has captured photos of some of the biggest names, including Taylor Swift, Metallica, Harry Styles, P!NK, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Shania Twain, and hundreds more. Wendowski’s photos and freelance work have appeared nationwide and can be seen everywhere from ad campaigns to various publications, including Billboard and Rolling Stone. When Wendowski isn’t running Music Mayhem, he enjoys spending time at concerts, traveling, and capturing photos.