Willie Nelson famously turned down the opportunity to record Kenny Rogers’ #1 hit, “The Gambler.” Country Music Nation recently reminded us of this intriguing what-could-have-been story. The song, penned by American songwriter Don Schlitz in 1976, had multiple iterations before finding its iconic performer. Schlitz shopped the song around for two years, with Bobby Bare and Johnny Cash both recording versions. However, it wasn’t until Kenny Rogers released it in November 1978 that “The Gambler” achieved crossover success.
The Journey of “The Gambler”
Don Schlitz’s “The Gambler” saw various renditions before becoming a hit. Initially, Bobby Bare recorded it, and later Johnny Cash included it on his album “Gone Girl.” Despite these notable attempts, the song did not gain significant traction until Kenny Rogers took it on. Rogers’ version, released in November 1978, not only topped the Country Chart but also crossed over to the Pop Chart—an impressive feat in 1978. This success culminated in Rogers winning the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980.
Willie Nelson’s Decision
In 2020, Willie Nelson revealed a fascinating tidbit about “The Gambler”: Kenny Rogers had initially offered the song to him. Nelson, however, declined the opportunity. During an interview with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager, Nelson shared, “He tried to get me to record The Gambler. He said, ‘I got this song here; I think you should do it.’ And he played it for me, and I said, ‘It’s a great song, but I don’t think I’ll do it…’” Nelson explained that he was already committed to performing his lengthy song “The Red Headed Stranger” every night and didn’t want to add another long song to his set.
The Practicality Behind the Choice
Nelson’s reasoning was rooted in practicality. He mentioned, “That song already has 100 verses in it, and it’s a long song. And I said, I just don’t want to do another long song, and I can’t quit doing Red Headed Stranger. So, he said, ‘Okay, I’ll record it myself.’ And so, he did, and there it is.” This decision underscored Nelson’s focus on maintaining a manageable performance schedule rather than overloading it with similarly demanding songs.
Reflecting on “The Gambler’s” Legacy
When asked if he regretted not recording “The Gambler,” Nelson responded, “No, that was Kenny’s song all the way.” Indeed, “The Gambler” has left a lasting legacy. Rolling Stone recently ranked it as the 21st-best country song on their list of the 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. Additionally, the posthumous album “Life Is Like A Song,” curated by Wanda Rogers and released in June, commemorates Kenny Rogers’ enduring impact on music. Rogers, who passed away in March 2020 at the age of 81, continues to be celebrated for his contributions to the industry. This album, his first non-holiday studio album in a decade, further solidifies his legacy as a beloved country music icon.
