Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum Open the 2026 ACM Honors With a Playful Tribute to Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum had two jobs at the 2026 ACM Honors: guide the audience through one of country music’s most celebratory nights and help get the party started.
They accomplished the latter by reaching back more than four decades for one of the genre’s most beloved duets.
Pearce and McCollum opened the 19th ACM Honors on Wednesday, August 19, at The Pinnacle in Nashville with a lively performance of “Islands in the Stream,” the 1983 smash made famous by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers. The choice carried extra significance on a night when Parton was being honored with the ACM Poet’s Award.
Carly Pearce and Parker McCollum turn hosting duties into a duet
Pearce returned to host ACM Honors for the sixth time, while McCollum joined her as co-host for the first time. The Academy of Country Music described Pearce as a four-time ACM Award winner and McCollum as a three-time winner when announcing the pairing.
But the two stars weren’t limited to introducing awards and performances.
They also appeared among the evening’s performers, and their opening duet immediately established a playful tone for the ceremony.
“Islands in the Stream” was an especially fitting choice.
Written by the Bee Gees and recorded by Parton and Rogers, the song became a defining country-pop crossover hit after its release in 1983. It reached No. 1 on both Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and the all-genre Hot 100, becoming one of the most recognizable duets associated with either singer.
Its reputation has only grown with time. In 2005, it topped CMT’s ranking of the greatest country duets.
More than 40 years after Parton and Rogers made it famous, Pearce and McCollum brought the song into a new generation of country music at ACM Honors.
@tennessee_teri #carlypearce #parkermccollum #acmhonors2026 ♬ original sound – tennessee_teri
The performance carried special meaning for Dolly Parton
The tribute was particularly timely because Parton was one of the major honorees celebrated during the ceremony.
The Academy presented the country legend with its Poet’s Award, an honor recognizing a songwriter’s outstanding and longstanding musical or lyrical contributions and the cultural impact of their work.
Parton’s songwriting catalog provided plenty of evidence for the distinction.
In announcing her honor, the ACM highlighted songs including “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” as well as her multiple ACM Song of the Year nominations. The Academy described her writing as central to her decades-long influence on country music.
Parton did not attend the Nashville ceremony in person, but the ACM had announced ahead of the event that she would accept the Poet’s Award through a special video message.
That made Pearce and McCollum’s opening performance more than a nostalgic crowd-pleaser. It also became part of an evening-long celebration of Parton’s songwriting legacy.
@kasey.shea311 @parkermccollum Islands in the Stream #acmhonors2026 #parkermccollum ♬ original sound – kasey.shea311
Dolly’s music returned later in the ceremony
“Islands in the Stream” wasn’t the only Parton classic featured during ACM Honors.
Pearce returned later in the evening alongside Carter Faith and Kaitlin Butts for another tribute, this time performing “9 to 5.”
The performances were part of a packed 19th ACM Honors lineup that included Dierks Bentley, Megan Moroney, Trisha Yearwood, Sheryl Crow, Margo Price, Dylan Scott, Gavin Adcock and several other artists. Brenda Lee appeared as a special guest.
The ceremony also celebrated a wide range of figures from across country music, including Bill Anderson, Eric Church, Kacey Musgraves, the Carter Family, Brett James and others, alongside ACM Studio Recording and Industry Award recipients.
August 19 brought another major milestone for Dolly Parton
The tributes arrived on an already remarkable day for Parton’s catalog.
On August 19, it was announced that the 80-year-old country legend had earned 82 new global sales certifications across 14 countries, spanning both singles and albums.
Among the songs receiving new recognition were the same classics being celebrated at ACM Honors.
“9 to 5” reached Diamond status in Canada while adding major Platinum certifications in several other territories. “Islands in the Stream” also received new multi-Platinum recognition, including 6x Platinum status in New Zealand and 3x Platinum in the United Kingdom.
The numbers underline why songs recorded decades ago remain natural choices for artists paying tribute to Parton today.
@juangoesto 9-5 this classic #acmhonors #nashville #dollyparton @ACM Awards ♬ original sound – JUAN
A 1983 classic finds another generation
For Pearce and McCollum, opening ACM Honors with “Islands in the Stream” offered the chance to have some fun while acknowledging two giants of country music.
Kenny Rogers died in 2020, but his musical partnership with Parton remains one of the most enduring pairings in the genre. “Islands in the Stream” continues to occupy a special place within that legacy.
At the 2026 ACM Honors, Pearce and McCollum didn’t attempt to replace the original chemistry that made the song famous. Instead, their playful interpretation allowed a country classic to become part of another memorable night in Nashville.
More than four decades after Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers took “Islands in the Stream” to No. 1, two stars from a new generation were still singing it — and country music was still celebrating the song that brought them together.