Kenny Rogers ended his regular touring career last night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville with the “All in For the Gambler: Kenny Rogers’ Farewell Concert Celebration”.
In reality, this was more a tribute show than a Rogers concert. He sat at the side of the stage and watched a long list of artists pay tribute to him but only actually took the stage at the end for two songs.
Still, this was a look back at Rogers extraordinary career, first as a rock artist, highlighted by Jamey Johnson’s take on “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”, and then as a country icon. Artists from Kris Kristofferson and the Oak Ridge Bpoys to Idina Menzel and Aaron Lewis took their turns on the stage for a crack at some Rogers classics and a few deep catalog songs.
There were also a couple of special pairings during the proceedings. Wynonna and Naomi Judd paired up for “Back to the Well” while mother/daughter Linda Davis and Hillary Scott took on “Twenty Years Ago”. Broadway star Indina Menzel and Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley paired for “We’ve Got Tonight” before Rogers finally came up with duet partner Dolly Parton for a couple of songs including their smash “Islands in the Stream” which closed the show.
We’ve been trying to assemble a firm set list from the night but have found discrepancies among all the reports. Here are the songs that we know were performed:
Love or Something Like It – Oak Ridge Boys
Tulsa Turnaround – Elle King
Lucille – Justin Moore
Morning Desire – Billy Currington
Sweet Music Man – Jamey Johnson
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) – Jamey Johnson
Ruben James – Reba McEntire
You Turn the Light On – Wynonna Judd
Back to the Well – The Judds
Twenty Years Ago – Linda Davis & Hillary Scott
Intermission
Love the World Away – Alison Krauss
Me and Bobby McGee – Kris Kristofferson
Lady – Lionel Richie
The Gambler – Chris Stapleton
She Believes in Me – Lady Antebellum
Through the Years – Little Big Town
You Decorated My Life – Indina Menzel
We’ve Got Tonight – Indina Menzel and Charles Kelley
You Can’t Make Old Friends – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton
Islands in the Stream – Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
There are also reports of the following performances:
Desperado – Don Henley
Blaze of Glory – Crystal Gayle & Travis Tritt with The Gatlin Brothers, Kim Forester, T.G. Sheppard, Lee Greenwood, T. Graham Brown and Billy Dean
Coward of the County – Aaron Lewis
Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Flaming Lips
If anyone know how these fit into the night’s proceedings, please let us know.
The All In For the Gambler concert is set to be aired on CMT in the near future.
Note that this was, in fact, not Rogers’ last show. He still has his Christmas Tour set for November and December and an appearance at next year’s Stagecoach Festival.
