2012 SHAPING UP TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST YEARS OF KENNY ROGERS’ CAREER

FIRST AUTOBIOGRAPHY DUE OUT THIS FALL

UPCOMING COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SHOWS SOLD OUT 

JOINS THE BONNAROO & CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUPS 

NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIAN TOUR ANNOUNCED

WORKING WITH DANN HUFF ON UPCOMING NEW ALBUM 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 30, 2012 – For a universally beloved artist who has sold more than 120 million albums and has been a star of the stage and screen, you’d think Kenny Rogers has already done it all. Yet somehow 2012 is shaping up to be one of the busiest and most rewarding years of his legendary career.

Kenny Rogers is currently putting the finishing touches on his first autobiography, scheduled for a fall 2012 release by HarperCollins. Jam-packed with fascinating stories from life on and off the stage, it’s bound to be one of the most talked about books this year.

“I have to admit I've had an incredible life,” Rogers commented.“Once I started actually recalling some of the special moments, I was shocked as to how much fun it was for me. I would hope that as you read this book, you get a sense of where I came from, who I am, and where I’m going.”

Next Monday and Tuesday, Rogers will bring his signature soulful voice, his catalog of hits and all of those stories when he takes the Ford Theater stage as the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s 2012 Artist-in-Residence in Nashville. Rogers will present two intimate evening performances on May 9th and 10th at 7:00 p.m. Both shows are already SOLD OUT.

Just last week it was announced that Kenny Rogers had joined the lineup for this year’s edition of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival (June 7th-10th). Kenny will also perform at this year’s CMA Music Festival in Nashville on June 9th.

Kenny’s fans down under will get the opportunity to see him live with the addition of new tour dates in New Zealand and Australia. Beginning on August 10th in Addington, New Zealand, Kenny Rogers and his band will make ten appearances on his first tour of the area since January and February of last year. Tickets for Kenny’s performances in Darwin, Australia on August 18th and Gympie, Australia on August 26th are on sale now. Many of the remaining shows on the tour are scheduled to go on sale May 7th.

Kenny’s most recent release, his first gospel album, The Love of God, became his 21st Top 10 country album here in North America. The critically acclaimed album will be re-released under the new name Faith by Wrasse Records in Europe digitally on May 14th and in stores on May 28th.

Kenny is also carving out time this year to begin recording a brand new studio album with producer Dann Huff (Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban). Huff previously worked with Kenny on 2006’s Water & Bridges.

And if all of that wasn’t enough, fans can count on seeing Kenny Rogers embarking on the 31st Anniversary of his Christmas & Hits Tour this winter. As always the festive show will feature live performances of holiday classics as well as his biggest hits.

Rogers has sold more than 120 million records worldwide and recorded more than 65 albums during his storied 54 years in show business. His long list of timeless classics includes an impressive 24 #1 hits – “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Lucille,” “Coward Of The County,” “She Believes in Me,” “Islands in the Stream” (with Dolly Parton) and “Every Time Two Fools Collide” (with Dottie West) among them. His Greatest Hits album has sold over 24 million copies worldwide to date. He is the RIAA’s 8th best-selling male artist of all time with one Diamond album, 19 Platinum albums and 31 Gold albums.

Kenny Rogers is the singer, the photographer, the producer, the actor, the songwriter, and of course…The Gambler.

KENNY ROGERS 2012 TOUR DATES

5/9 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Artist-In-Residence – Ford Theater – Nashville, TN
5/10 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Artist-In-Residence – Ford Theater – Nashville, TN
5/17 Buffalo Run Casino – Miami, OK
5/18 First Council Casino Hotel – The Event Center – Newkirk, OK
6//9 2012 CMA Music Festival – LP Field – Nashville, TN
6/7-10 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival – Manchester, TN
6/15 Luhrs Performing Arts Center – Shippensburg, PA
6/16 MGM Grand at Foxwoods – MGM Grand Theater – Mashantucket, CT
6/20 Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino – Eagle Pass, TX
6/22 IP Casino Resort & Spa – IP Showroom - Studio A – Biloxi, MS
7/13 Alabama Theatre – North Myrtle Beach, SC
7/14 Chastain Park Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA (With Glen Campbell)
7/27 Meadowbrook – US Cellular Pavilion – Gilford, NH (With The Oak Ridge Boys)
8/10 CBS Arena – Christchurch, Addington, New Zealand (With Glen Campbell)
8/12 Vector Arena – Auckland, New Zealand (With Glen Campbell)
8/15 State Theatre – Sydney, NSW, Australia (With Glen Campbell)
8/16 State Theatre – Sydney, NSW, Australia (With Glen Campbell)
8/18 Darwin Festival – Darwin, N. Territory, Australia
8/21 Perth Convention Centre – Perth, Australia
8/23 Palais Theatre – Melbourne, VIC, Australia (With Glen Campbell)
8/24 Newcastle Entertainment Centre – Newcastle, NSW, Australia (With Glen Campbell)
8/26 Gympie Muster Outdoor Festival – Gympie, Queensland, Australia
8/29 Adelaide Festival Theatre – Adelaide, Australia
9/9 Wayne County Fair – Wooster, OH
9/28 Durham Fair – Durham, CT
10/12 Arena Theatre – Houston, TX
Additional tour dates, including the 2012 Christmas & Hits Tour, to be announced.