Kenny Rogers Drops Christmas Album & announces retirement from Touring

His Upcoming World Tour Will Be His Last

He's released his 9th holiday album Once Again It's Christmas.

NEW YORK, NY (September 25, 2015) – For the past 57 years, as sure as the sun would come up in the morning and set in the evening, there was one thing you could count on — Kenny Rogers would soon be coming to a venue near you to perform.

However, that time is now drawing to a close. Kenny Rogers announced on NBC’s The Today Show that his next world tour commencing in 2016 will be his last.

Two years ago, Kenny Rogers announced that his then current tour of Europe would most likely be his last overseas trek. He said at the time 'There is a fine line between being driven and being selfish ' I have crossed that line a few times ' and I don't want to do that to my boys.'

Those twin boys are now eleven and Rogers is 77 and, according to the NBC interview, he's ready to hang up his touring shoes for good.

Before he's done, though, he plans on doing one more world tour in 2016 although dates won't be announced until a later date. Rogers said 'It's happily sad or sadly happy. I'm going to do a big worldwide tour, and it's going to be my last. I'm going to say goodbye at that point; I've done this long enough.'

Singer Kenny Rogers is coming out with a remarkable 76th album, a collection of Christmas songs. He told TODAY's Carson Daly and Savannah Guthrie about it, and revealed that he plans to go into retirement with a bang: a worldwide farewell tour whose final stop will be TODAY! Watch the video here:

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Today also marks the release his first new Christmas album in seventeen years titled: ONCE AGAIN IT’S CHRISTMAS (Warner Bros. / Warner Music Nashville). The festive set is Rogers’ first Christmas release since 1998 and his sixth Christmas release overall.

For more information: http://kennyrogers.rtouring.com/

The festive set will be Rogers’ first Christmas release since 1998’s CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART and his sixth Christmas release overall. Several special guest stars join Rogers on Once Again It’s Christmas, including Alison Krauss (“Some Children See Him”), Jennifer Nettles (“Here It Is Christmas/Baby, It’s Cold Outside”), Home Free (collaborates with Rogers on “Children, Go Where I Send Thee”), Jim Brickman (guests on “That Silent Night”), and Winfield’s Locket (sings with Rogers on “There’s A New Kid In Town”).

Rogers also co-wrote a powerful song called “The Light” with long-time bandmate Steve Glassmeyer and former bandmate, Warren Hartman. The song concludes the album. The new project was produced by Kyle Lehning and Hartman, who were joined by Darren Rust as co-producer for the song, “Children, Go Where I Send Thee.” Steve Sundholm and Jim Brickman produced “That Silent Night.”

The Once Again It’s Christmas album cover art, is a photo taken by Rogers that he entitled “Red Tree.” He captured the wintry scene while shooting in Yakima, Washington, in December 2003.

 Rogers received an Honorary Masters of Photography Degree from Professional Photographers of America (PPA) in 2014 for his contributions to the world of photography.

Available for purchase:

11 Tracks/ Time: 40:54 Amazon UK: CD - MP3 | UK iTunes | Amazon.com 

Track Listing For Once Again It’s Christmas

1. Once Again It’s Christmas

2. There’s A New Kid In Town feat. Winfield’s Locket

3. Here It Is Christmas/Baby, It’s Cold Outside feat. Jennifer Nettles

4. Little Drummer Boy

5. Back To Bethlehem

6. Winter Wonderland

7. Some Children See Him feat. Alison Krauss

8. I’ll Be Home For Christmas

9. Children, Go Where I Send Thee feat. Home Free

10. That Silent Night feat. Jim Brickman

11. The Light

Test Drive it here, NOTE: Requires Spotify application to be installed and opened:

“I can’t tell you how much fun it was recording a Christmas record again,” Rogers said. “I’m excited for people to hear it. I feel like this is a special group of songs — both old and new — and I was particularly lucky to be joined by many talented guest artists and musicians who each have something unique to say.”

Since the release of his first ever Christmas album, Christmas, in 1981, Rogers has embarked on an annual Christmas & Hits Tour, which continues this winter for the thirty-fourth straight year. It’s a holiday that holds special meaning for Rogers.

Once Again It's Christmas Cover ART
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“Christmas is my favorite time of year. It’s a very important season for me, especially now that I have twin boys who just turned 11 years old. It’s reminded me of how you see it through different eyes when you’re a parent. It’s wonderful,” Rogers said.

Rogers’ Once Again It’s Christmas Tour featuring Linda Davis will include performances of holiday favorites and his No. 1 hits through concerts across the U.S. and Canada.

As of Sept 1, 2015 the tour included 26 dates. Special * VIP packages were made available for the tour dates.  

Check out Kenny Rogers - Tour Dates for details

Nov. 11-14 – Niagara Falls, Ontario @ Niagara Fallsview Casino Avalon

Nov. 17 – Moncton, New Brunswick @ Casino New Brunswick*

Nov. 18 – Truro, Nova Scotia @ Rath Eastlink Centre*

Nov. 20 – Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador @ Pepsi Centre*

Nov. 21 – Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador @ Clarenville Events Centre*

Nov. 22 – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador @ Mile One Centre*

Nov. 27 – Northfield, Ohio @ Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield*

Nov. 28 – Merrillville, Ind. @ Star Plaza Theatre*

Nov. 30 – Terre Haute, Ind. @ Hulman Center – Indiana State*

Dec. 2 – Norfolk, Neb. @ Divots Conference Center

Dec. 4 – Bowler, Wisc. @ North Star Mohican Casino Showroom*

Dec. 5 – Battle Creek, Mich. @ Firekeepers Casino – Event Center*

Dec. 6 – Windsor, Ontario @ The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor*

Dec. 8 – Ashland, Ky. @ Paramount Arts Center*

Dec. 10 – New Brunswick, N.J. @ State Theatre*

Dec. 11 – White Plains, N.Y. @ Westchester County Center*

Dec. 12 – Uncasville, Conn. @ Mohegan Sun Arena*

Dec. 13 – Bangor, Maine @ Cross Insurance Center*

Dec. 15 – Hagerstown, Md. @ Maryland Theater*

Dec. 16 – Roanoke, Va. @ Berglund Performing Arts Theatre*

Dec. 17 – Verona, N.Y. @ Turning Stone Resort & Casino – Event Center

Dec. 18 – King of Prussia, Pa. @ Valley Forge Casino Resort*

Dec. 19 – Englewood, N.J. @ Bergen Performing Arts Center

Dec. 20 – Concord, N.H. @ The Capitol Center For The Arts

Dec. 22 – Erie, Pa. @ Warner Theater*

Dec. 23 – Westbury, N.Y. @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury*

* INDICATES VIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE

About Kenny Rogers:

The past several years have been some of the most active and rewarding of Rogers’ entire career.

Event: Kenny Rogers officially inducted into
Country Music Hall of Fame Family Photo (27 Oct 2013)

• In 2013, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 47th Annual CMA Awards.
• To date, Rogers has sold more than 120 million albums worldwide.
• He has charted a record within each of the last seven decades.
• The first country artist to consistently sell out arenas, Rogers quickly became a pop superstar as well — his 28 Billboard Adult Contemporary Top 10's rank him fourth-best of all time among men, trailing only Elton John, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Presley.
• Rogers has recorded 12 No. 1 albums and 24 No. 1 hits and is the RIAA’s eighth best-selling male solo artist of all time.
• Awards: He has received three GRAMMY Awards, 11 People's Choice Awards, 19 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music awards and six Country Music Association awards.
• Rogers has had a storied career in both rock and country. With his group the First Edition, he had five top twenty pop hits starting with the psychedelic Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) and followed with the more countrified Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town and But You Know I Love You.
• As a solo artist, he's been to the POP Top 20 fifteen times with classics like Lucille, The Gambler, Lady and Islands in the Stream with Dolly Parton.
• He's released 28 solo albums, three collaborations and nine holiday albums including the brand new Once Again It's Christmas.

11 Tracks/ Time: 40:54 Available on Amazon UK: CD - MP3 | UK iTunes | Amazon.com 

For more information:

Kenny Rogers Tour Dates - www.kennyrogers.com