Kenny Rogers Blames “New Country” on His Retirement
Kenny Rogers officially announced his retirement on September 25th, along with a final farewell tour, as part of an interview on NBC’s Today Show. At the time, Rogers cited wanting to spend more time with his 11-year-old twin boys, and not being able to get around the stage due to limited mobility as the primary reasons he was deciding to call it quits. The 77-year-old has certainly had his fair share off successes in his long career, and was recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. But now we’re finding out there’s much more to Kenny Rogers’ motivations to quit performing.
“I think country music is whatever country people will buy,” Rogers said, when asked by Variety how country music is currently doing. “And I think people don’t buy certain kinds of country anymore. So what happens is that in their efforts to do something different, to set themselves apart from me and the other guys before me, they took it to a different place. Country is very healthy right now they’re bringing in a lot of kids. But it’s not a type of music that I prefer or that I would want to do, and that’s why I’m getting out.”
Of course some would cite Kenny Rogers’ crossover efforts, or the fact that he started in rock as one of the precursors to country music going off course. But even those folks can’t compare Kenny’s classic output to what is called country music today.
Kenny also said that spending time with his family, and a sense that he’s accomplished everything he wanted to in country were also contributing factors to deciding to retire. Attempting to chase the newest country trends like some older artists can be seen doing is something Kenny is just not interested in. “It might be a terrible thing to say, but I feel like I’ve done everything I set out to do,” he says. “I don’t really have any challenges unless I want to go out and compete with new country, and I don’t have any desire to do that.”
Kale
December 2, 2015 @ 1:12 pm
A lot of people thought my Pop Pop was Kris Kristofferson when the saw him, but sometimes it was Kenny Rogers. He had that kind of beard and hair. Random comment of the day:)
Nate
December 2, 2015 @ 1:14 pm
Kenny was certainly pop country, but “Lucille,” in my opinion, is one of the greatest country songs of all-time.
Jake W
December 2, 2015 @ 1:25 pm
Ruby don’t take your love to town. Coward of the county, Reuben James, condition my condition was inor whatever its called all great classics. Plus you knthat I love you may have been pop not sure but it is a beautiful song. I still love Kenny Rogers.
Kale
December 2, 2015 @ 1:40 pm
The song that’s goes “I am the greatest player of them all.” You think the kid is a poor batter and misses the ball, but he’s actually a great pitcher and the other kid can’t hit it.
dukes
December 2, 2015 @ 6:12 pm
In that song, he’s both the pitcher and the batter. He’s tossing the ball up in the air, and trying to hit it when it comes down.
Kale
December 2, 2015 @ 10:00 pm
The ball hits the ground every time, even the last time when he says “even I didn’t know I could pitch like that.” I think it was some clever wordplay, purposefully ambiguous. He says “swings ‘his’ bat all the way around” and we assumed he was talking about the same kid, but it was another kid.
Dukes
December 2, 2015 @ 10:34 pm
Nope.
Sorry, I like a good “up to interpretation” lyric as much as anyone, but that’s not the case here.
the boy “puts his bat on his shoulder, and tosses up his ball.”
He cannot do BOTH, if they are two different kids.
luckyoldsun
December 5, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
Good God–The whole point of the song and the whole charm of it is that the kid “makes lemonade out of lemons,” so to speak, by repositioning himself in his imaginary game from batter to pitcher after he strikes himself out.
Red Headed Danger
December 3, 2015 @ 3:24 pm
I love Ruby, Lucille, and Just Dropped In, etc. And I loved Coward of the County back in the day, when I was a teenager, but now it gives me the squicks. I mean, I’m glad Tommy learned a valuable lesson about courage and standing up for yourself and stuff, but was it really necessary for poor Becky to get gang raped to accomplish that? Yikes.
Charlie
December 2, 2015 @ 1:25 pm
I’d probably place more of the blame on 77 years of age. 😛
Trigger
December 2, 2015 @ 2:14 pm
He said initially his ability to move around the stage was a contributing factor. It hasn’t stopped Willie at 82, but we’re all not built the same. Age certainly is a factor. He wants to spend the time he has left with his boys. Who can blame him for that?
Bear
December 2, 2015 @ 1:36 pm
Well, honestly, I’m with Charlie on him being 77. However, I’d take it further and say that it’s a combination of that along with an unwillingness to put in the work to make to the level of fiscal success he feels he needs/deserves. Basically, it’s just not worth it to him to be out playing intimate shows in smaller venues for a huge cut in pay to what he was used to in his arena days, and still a decent cut from playing the low end of the higher capacity venues.
He could have what would be a fulfilling time out there for many folks with ease, but it’s not what he wants. I’m not really going to hold it against him, but it does demonstrate a real disconnect with what is going on in the country and roots scene outside of the mainstream.
Bigfoot is Real (AKA Progressive Fascist Rat)
December 2, 2015 @ 1:52 pm
So he does know when to fold ’em…
Jackie Treehorn
December 2, 2015 @ 7:57 pm
Hahahahahahaha!!! I liked that one
Jake S
December 3, 2015 @ 9:41 pm
Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women, man.
Jen
December 2, 2015 @ 2:21 pm
I just thought it was because he’s nearly 80, and nobody wants him anymore? I lost interest, when he started shuffling through wives like a card deck from “The Gambler”, and then there were the 500 face lifts, and he’s not even good-looking, anymore! He used to be a handsome man. Now he looks like a cartoon character! At least Barry Gibb still looks like himself. He didn’t become obsessed with looking younger. He embraced his age. He looks amazing, for his age! His demo of “Eyes that See in the Dark” is amazing! Barry should have kept that entire album for himself and released it. Talk about a career-maker! His version of “Hold Me” could melt Antarctica! It’s hauntingly,breathtakingly beautiful. This album is a definite must every day for me. I even dance to it at least twice a day…good workout!
Devil Anse
December 2, 2015 @ 2:56 pm
Am I a terrible person for kind of hating “The Gambler”? I mean, this bum drinks all of a guy’s whiskey, mooches a cigarette and a light out of him, for the promise of some grand, mystical advice that can alter the course of the guy’s life, and what does he get? “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em…” Bland, vague, pointless lines that you can get in a fortune cookie.
Love Kenny Rogers, though.
Fidlstyx
December 2, 2015 @ 3:03 pm
Take it easy on ‘im, he was on his way out
Michael P
December 2, 2015 @ 3:52 pm
Thanks for getting it stuck in my head.
hoptowntiger94
December 2, 2015 @ 4:07 pm
Don Schiltz wrote “The Gambler.” If you have 20 minutes, I highly recommend listening to Episode 103 of Otis Gibbs’ podcast “Thanks for Giving a Damn.” Schiltz is the guest and talks about first coming to Nashville and shopping around “The Gambler.” It’s an excellent listen.
luckyoldsun
December 5, 2015 @ 8:20 pm
Schlitz wrote it and I don’t know who he gave it to. I know Bobby Bare recorded it and I think it was before Kenny Rogers did. But Kenny’s rendition is a classic. Schlitz must have made a ton of money off it. I’m wonder why they didn’t do a sequel–the way Marty Robbins kept writing and recording sequels to “El Paso.”
luckyoldsun
December 5, 2015 @ 8:16 pm
Vague, pointless advice that nonetheless captured the world!
The song was played everywhere back then, and it’s still played now. I heard it played by the band at a big wedding just a few months ago–after they had played all the love songs. I once had a black guy sing the song at me when I was playing blackjack in Atlantic City and trying to be a bigshot and I was winning for once–and I started sorting and counting my chips at the table.
hoptowntiger94
December 2, 2015 @ 3:19 pm
You’d think he’d move the family to Vegas and setup shop out there a couple years (doing shows),
Justin
December 2, 2015 @ 3:58 pm
In other news, Kennys hair is still intact
Harpo
December 2, 2015 @ 5:02 pm
Are you sure about that?
albert
December 2, 2015 @ 4:25 pm
Two words : Tom Jones.
If you haven’t checked out his most recent release Tower Of Song …do yourself a favor .Killer songs , killer vocal performances and fresh productions defying genres and musical eras. Here’s a gifted artist who had his pop success but never stopped being an artist first exploring challenges to his abilities vocally / musically with emotion at the forefront of those performances . Not saying Kenny didn’t find and record his share of great songs …but ultimately he survived on those hits and broke no new ground the way Willie and many others did to keep themselves and audiences interested . If you aren’t moved to be an ARTIST , the game is draining, draining ,draining on your health , your time and your relationships …not to mention your creative energies . If you are ONLY chasing a dollar , the biz is a job just like any other job on a factory floor or in a cockpit of a 747. In fact, its way tougher than most in terms of the aforementioned sacrifices . You have to LOVE making music and get a charge and a reward from just doing it regardless of whether it generates revenue . The process is who you are , not WHAT YOU DO . THIS artistic drive and attitude is what’s so obviously absent from country music , in particular , today . The fringe-folk ….the Patty Griffin’s , the Paul Simons ( yes THAT Paul Simon, who continues to create imaginative soundscapes exploring possibilities at every turn all the while keeping it accessible and relevant ) the Isbells and many many more true artists Trigger has covered in these blogs ….those folks GET what it takes to be an artist who NEEDS to create this music for themselves first . Radio country is the antithesis of all of these things . Its a trend-chasing , pandering , soul- destroying , throw-away dollar driven mess and in the end very few will walk away winners when it comes to artistic satisfaction .
Mule
December 3, 2015 @ 10:07 am
Tom’s last two albums, Praise & Blame and Spirit in the Room are both excellent, with versions of songs by Leonard Cohen, John Lee Hooker, traditional folk and gospel numbers – both albums are of a piece and produced by Ethan Johns. Miles away from “What’s New Pussycat” and a must for any fan of good roots music.
Great post!
the pistolero
December 2, 2015 @ 4:58 pm
country music is whatever country people will buy
This was bullshit coming from some random Redditor, and it’s bullshit coming from Kenny Rogers too.
BigCityBw
December 2, 2015 @ 6:57 pm
Ray Price was the only person who should’ve performed that long.
Phil
December 2, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
I still listen to his music but lost a lot of respect for him (and can’t stand looking at him) since he had the horrible face lift. Real country men don’t get face lifts.
It was one of the worst face lifts I’d seen since Jerry Jones got his (arrogant fame whore owner of the Cowboys).
Side note: on Jeopardy a few weeks ago, one of the questions asked what his original music genre was before country.
dave
December 2, 2015 @ 11:32 pm
I am defintley not a Kenny rogers supporter by no means but lets not forget that Waylon suggested he record Lucille and he made mell tillis ruby a big hit not to mention the gambler and he helped bring dottie west back to the top with there great duets…… Kenny may have searched out for bigger horizens in the pop world that I didn’t give a shit about but I think he always hand one leg firmly planted in the roots of country…..
Mule
December 3, 2015 @ 10:10 am
Whenever I see Kenny now, I always feel the need to post this, for proper perspective.
http://youtu.be/h3Xxz1bNJqs
🙂
Jim
December 4, 2015 @ 5:31 am
Kenny, love will turn you around.
Ron
December 4, 2015 @ 12:40 pm
Was Kenny truly ever “Country” to begin with?
Waylon Van Smack
December 8, 2015 @ 7:11 am
BadAssedry was not his forte. All of his songs were squishy as a marshmallow.