"Islands in the Stream," a song written by the Bee Gees and recorded as a duet by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, became a massive hit in 1983, topping Billboard's Hot 100.
On Thursday (May 2), the song was exposed to a new audience thanks to a cover version by actress Jennifer Love Hewitt heard on the ABC drama 9-1-1. Hewitt's solo version will also be released to all the major streaming platforms Thursday at 9 p.m. PT/12 a.m. ET.
Hewitt explained her inspiration for recording her version of the classic. "When Kenny Choi (Howie "Chimney" Han) does emotional scenes, he likes to listen to music, and Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Chimney's song is 'Islands in the Stream,' which they performed in the karaoke episode. So, I got together with my friend (producer) Nick Marzock, and we recorded a ballad version of it."
The episode featuring Hewitt's tender solo ballad version of "Islands in the Stream," in which she's accompanied by piano, titled "There Goes the Groom," airs tonight (May 2) at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
"After years of anticipation, Maddie and Chimney's long-awaited wedding day arrives. However, when the groom mysteriously vanishes, the 118 races against time to ensure he doesn't miss the most crucial day of his life," reads the log line.
This isn't the first time the song has popped up on a TV show. In the second season of ABC's The Good Doctor, the song was featured as a karaoke pick in two episodes. It also turned up in Netflix's 2023 miniseries, Beckham, with David Beckham and his wife, Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, dancing to the song.
The Bee Gees also reclaimed the song, which Robin Gibb claimed was originally written for Marvin Gaye, by releasing live and studio versions of the song themselves in 1998 and 2001.
