3 Country Duets From the 1980s That Never Seem to Age

Country music has a history of classic duets—George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash and June Carter, and Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, to name a few. This tradition continued in the 1980s with high-profile collaborations, many of which also became hits on the pop charts. Yet regardless of when they were released, these three country duets from the 1980s never seem to age.

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“If It Weren’t For Him” by Vince Gill and Rosanne Cash

Life can feel like an endless exercise in navigating obstacles. And often, those obstacles are other people, especially in romantic affairs. Here, Vince Gill might find the love of his life if it weren’t for the other guy. However, unbeknownst to Gill, Rosanne Cash also views her current partner as an obstacle. The duet features two people living in quiet despair over one another. And it wouldn’t be a great country ballad if these characters weren’t destined for misery. Though the glossy production sets this track firmly in the 1980s, Gill’s and Cash’s voices are timeless, as is the heartbreak they describe.

“Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer” by Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes

Falling in love with a dreamer is a hard habit to break for many. The dreamer is eternally attractive for the sense of freedom they so effortlessly exude. However, it’s this freedom and idealism that keep the dreamer from wanting to stick around. Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes each possess a raspy voice. And as they sing to each other, the duo sounds weary. They’ve both seen this movie before; they know how it ends. Don’t fall in love with a dreamer is good advice but difficult to follow. So the sentiment endures.

“Islands In The Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

The Bee Gees wrote “Islands In The Stream” for Diana Ross. Though it was intended to be an R&B song, Barry Gibb told Billboard that “the R&B song became a country song. There’s such a close link between country music and R&B music.” It became a giant pop hit, furthering Gibb’s description of the connection between various genres. I’ve already mentioned how Rogers possesses a timeless voice. But Dolly Parton remains her own genre—exporting the distant folk music of Appalachia to the rest of the world. And in both voices, you can hear the Detroit soul that inspired the Gibbs. At each turn, this track stands on the shoulders of giants.

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