Miley Cyrus & Jimmy Fallon’s cover of Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton’s “Islands in the Stream” is both hilarious and deeply touching

Wearing extravagant outfits modeled on the 1980s, Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon performed “Islands in the Stream,” the hit associated with Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Their appearance suggested that the number might be played chiefly for laughs. Although comedy remained part of the presentation, the duet also proved unexpectedly sincere and moving.

Cyrus had a particularly personal reason to take on Parton’s part: Parton is her godmother. She sang the vocal lines with assurance, bringing a soulful and passionate approach to her solo section, which starts at roughly 1:30 in the performance. That passage also gave Cyrus an opportunity to display her powerful belting.

Fallon, best known as a comedian and television host, kept pace with Cyrus and demonstrated his own ability at the microphone. The performance consequently worked on two levels, pairing its deliberately comic costumes and setup with a respectful rendition of the Rogers and Parton song.

The duet attracted a large audience after The Tonight Show posted it on YouTube, where it reached 6.7 million views. Commenters connected the performance’s sweetness to Cyrus’s relationship with her godmother and to the friendship between Parton and Rogers. Another viewer observed that a number with the potential to become a parody instead came across as a genuine tribute.

Watch the full performance on page two