1981 Chart-Topper Cemented This Superstar Pairing's Place in Country History, And Its Still a Timeless Fan Favorite
More than 45 years later, a chart-topping duet between two country superstars remains a standout moment in the genre's history.
Kenny Rogers and Dottie West topped the country music charts with the hit that posed the musical question, "What Are We Doin' in Love?" The 1981 duet became a defining moment for the pair, showcasing their unmistakable vocal chemistry on a song that quickly became a fan favorite and a standout hit in both of their careers.
The song was a fifth major collaboration for the pair, who hit No. 2 for the first time in 1978 with "Anyone Who Isn't Me Tonight" and No. 1 with "Every Time Two Fools Collide" that same year.
The country powerhouses collaborated again in 1979 with the song "Till I Can't Make it On My Own," which hit No. 3, and the No. 1 tune, "All I Ever Need is You." In 1984, they reunited for the song "Together Again," which peaked at No. 19.
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"What Are We Doin' in Love" was released in February 1981. Written by Randy Goodrum, it became the duo's third and final number-one single on the country charts.
However, the song wasn't credited to Rogers and West as a duet. According to Country Universe, it was per his request that he not be listed on the record, as he didn't want to take the spotlight from his longtime collaborator.
Rogers spoke of his collaboration with West to Billboard Magazine about one of their first recordings in 2013.
"I had been sitting in the studio listening to her for forty-five minutes. I had never met her, and she hadn't met me," he explained.
"I was listening to her sing ‘Every Time Two Fools Collide,' and she looked in through the glass and said, ‘Larry, is that Kenny Rogers sitting next to you?' He said sure."
Rogers said it was at that time that their first, unexpected and perfectly suited duet occurred. "She said, ‘Well, you tell him I want to sing a duet with him.' I said ‘Dottie, I think I've heard this song enough that I could sing it with you.' So, we literally went in the studio and did it that night."
Dottie West died from injuries sustained in a car accident on September 4, 1991. She was 58. Kenny Rogers died on March 20, 2020, at the age of 81.
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 7:34 AM.