Willie Nelson Reveals Kenny Rogers Wanted Him to Record ‘The Gambler’
Willie Nelson recently shared an intriguing piece of country music history during an interview on the Today show. The 87-year-old country icon revealed that his late friend and frequent collaborator, Kenny Rogers, originally wanted him to record one of his most famous and enduring songs, “The Gambler.” The track went on to become a massive hit and one of the defining songs of Rogers’ career.
Nelson explained the story to Today host Jenna Bush Hager, recounting how Rogers, who passed away in March at the age of 81, tried to get him to record the iconic song. “Through the years, him and I were big pals,” Nelson recalled. “In fact, he tried to get me to record ‘The Gambler.’”
At the time, Rogers was eager for Nelson to take on “The Gambler”, which was written by Don Schlitz. The song, released in 1978, became a defining moment in Rogers’ career, earning him a No. 1 spot on the charts and later winning a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance in 1979. “The Gambler” was so impactful that it inspired a series of television movies starring Rogers.
Nelson explained the context behind his decision to pass on the song. “We were somewhere, I don’t know, and he was like, ‘I’ve got this song, I think you should do it,’ and he played it for me,” Nelson said. “I said, ‘You know, I think it’s a great song, but I don’t think I’ll do it,’ because I was doing, every night, a song called ‘Red Headed Stranger’ which has 100 verses in it. I said, ‘I just don’t want to do another long song.’” Nelson added that, after his decision, Rogers went ahead and recorded “The Gambler” himself.
The rest, as they say, is history. “The Gambler” went on to be one of Kenny Rogers’ most beloved and iconic songs, further cementing his place in country music history. When asked if he regretted turning the song down, Nelson quickly dismissed the idea, saying, “That was Kenny’s song all the way.”
Despite passing on “The Gambler,” Willie Nelson is doing just fine in his own right. The country music legend recently released his 70th studio album, “First Rose of Spring,” which has been met with praise and continues to showcase his enduring talent and influence on the genre.