Dolly Parton remembers Kenny Rogers in heartfelt tribute three years on from his death

It's been nearly three years since the world lost the legendary Kenny Rogers, but his dear friend and musical partner Dolly Parton still thinks of him often.

Speaking in a recent interview with People, the country music queen opened up about 'The Gamber' singer's passing in a heartfelt tribute.

"I miss him so much," the 77-year-old said.

"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."

Over nearly 40 years, the two recorded a number of duets together, from the '80s through the 2010s, including their 1983 hit 'Islands in the Stream,' which Parton says left her with some of her best memories.

"You know how sometimes you get tired of singing something because it just becomes routine?" said the 'Jolene' singer of their classic. "I would always lighten up when that particular song was due in the setlist. It just always made everybody feel so good in the audience, and the audience always loved singing it. I never got tired of Kenny’s voice." 

In 2013, Parton and Rogers collaborated one last time for the song 'You Can’t Make Old Friends.'

Soon after the two recorded the song, Rogers retired from performing in 2018 due to health issues.

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"You can make new friends that feel like old friends, but there's just something about the people that have spent years together …

"You have a history, and you learn about each other, inside and out. I knew Kenny very well. We're very similar. We're like brother and sister really," shared Parton of their final duet together.

"He's up there singing. I know that." 

Rogers died on March 20, 2020, from natural causes. He was 81.