What hit Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers song was written by the Bee Gees?

“Islands in the Stream” was the hit Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers song written by the Bee Gees. The 1983 recording became one of the most recognizable country-pop duets of its era, even though its writers were best known for disco, pop, and soul-influenced music.

Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb wrote the song, which was originally conceived in an R&B style. Kenny Rogers recorded it with Dolly Parton for his album Eyes That See in the Dark. Their version was released as a single in August 1983 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, country, and adult-contemporary charts.

Listeners sometimes assume the Bee Gees performed the famous original hit because they wrote it and later recorded their own versions. The best-known recording, however, is the Rogers-Parton duet. The song also helped cement the pair’s musical partnership; they later recorded the 1985 duet “Real Love.”