Leslie Jordan’s presence was a glittering disco ball during the spring of 2020. Known for his diminutive size and delightful Southern drawl, the Tennessee native gained plenty of fans with performances in American Horror Story and Will & Grace. Four months after his tragic death in October 2022, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated Jordan’s life with a star-studded lineup. Two of country’s biggest names, Lainey Wilson and Lukas Nelson, came together onstage for a particularly touching rendition of Kenny Rogers’ “You Can’t Make Old Friends.”
See Lainey Wilson, Lukas Nelson Cover Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers released “You Can’t Make Old Friends” as the title track of his 2013 album. The song featured arguably Rogers’ favorite duet partner, Dolly Parton. In a 2014 Facebook post, the “Gambler” singer said it was about “two friends who are like one soul.”
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“It’s really a true story of our longtime friendship,” Rogers wrote. “I even told Dolly, ‘I don’t even care if it’s not a hit. To have our relationship documented is worth it to me.’”
[RELATED: 5 Best Moments from ‘Reportin’ for Duty: A Tribute to Leslie Jordan’]
In the capable hands of Lainey Wilson and Lukas Nelson, the song became a bittersweet tribute to Leslie Jordan: When I am out on the stage all alone / And I hear the music begin / We all know the show must go on / But you can’t make old friends.
Fans marveled at the chemistry between the two country stars. “Lukas adds some kind of magic to everything he does,” one YouTube user commented on a video of the performance. “He can sing with anyone because he is a seasoned musician.”
Another user had similar feelings about Lainey Wilson. “I swear that girl can sing perfectly with anyone,” they wrote. “Beautiful, both of them.” Additionally, one fan noted that the performance was “One of the BEST tribute songs” ever.
A Look At Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s Friendship
The chemistry between Lainey Wilson and Lukas Nelson on that Opry stage was reminiscent of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. And there is no higher compliment, as the pair were the best of friends for years. Parton told People in February 2023 that she never tired of performing “Islands in the Stream,” their 1983 No. 1 hit.
“You know how sometimes you get tired of singing something because it just becomes routine?” the “Jolene” singer said. “But 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.”
Featured image by Tammie Arroyo/Shutterstock
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