Kenny Rogers knows when to fold ‘em.
This fall, the country music legend takes the stage in Nashville for a farewell performance. He’ll be joined by Dolly Parton, his duet partner on hits like “Islands in the Stream, in addition to Little Big Town, Alison Krauss, The Flaming Lips, Idina Menzel, Jamey Johnson, Elle King and others to be named later.
“As I’m bringing this chapter of my career to a close, this will be an unforgettable way to celebrate with my talented friends, who I’m so grateful to have crossed paths with,” Rogers said in a statement on the Blackbird Presents web site, where you can find full details. (blackbirdpresents.com).
Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. EST Friday. If you happen to be in Nashville or otherwise in the Central time zone, it’ll be 10 a.m. to you. See Ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000.
“It means so much that they would feel compelled to do this for me. Of course, the night would not be the same without Dolly Parton being part of it,” Rogers said. “We’ve enjoyed a special friendship for decades, and I’ll forever look back fondly on the many collaborations, performances, and laughs we’ve shared as some of the most extraordinary moments of my career. I know it will be a moving experience for us standing on that stage together for one last time.”
The concert, themed “All In For The Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration,” is planned for 7 p.m. (CST) Oct. 25 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It’ll be taped.
“Kenny is like a family member to me,” Parton said in a statement. “We have been friends for over 30 years and made musical magic together. Since 1983, when we released ‘Islands In The Stream,’ everyone has had an expectation to see Kenny everywhere I go and me with him wherever he goes. Well, I guess for many of those fans that wanted to see us together, this will be that night. Performing with Kenny for the last time ever on Oct. 25 is going to be emotional for both of us, but it’s also going to be very special.”
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation, a charity popular in music-industry circles that has raised more than $271 million for leukemia, cancer and AIDS research over the years. ( The annual Atlanta's Best Cellars gala, which supports T.J. Martell, is Friday Sept. 15 at the InterContinental in Buckhead ).
Rogers' swan-song show also supports the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, a facility in Sikeston, Mo. that serves children with special needs and their families.
Blackbird Presents is expecting quite a night, noting “Rogers has sold over 120 million albums worldwide during his career, making him one of the best-selling male artists of all-time. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, Kenny Rogers has left an indelible mark on the history of American music.”
