Kenny Rogers may have been one of the most famous figures in country music before his
passing on March 20, 2020, but there are aspects of the well-known singer's life that you might
not have been aware of.
For instance, he had four ex-wives, five children, and a staggering amount of money.
You might also be surprised to find out which one of the icon's songs was his favorite.
You might assume it's one of his big hits, but, surprisingly, you'd be wrong! Rogers'
favorite song to sing was actually a duet with fellow country singer Dottie West called
"Every Time Two Fools Collide."
In case you need a refresher, the song's lyrics, which are bittersweet, to say the least, went
like this, starting with Dottie West's verse:
"You want things your way / And I want them mine / And now we don't know / Just where
to draw the line / How can love survive / If we keep choosin' sides?
/ And who picks up the pieces / Every time two fools collide?"
Rogers picks things up next.
He sings:
"You lay the blame on me / And I put the blame on you / But why do we keep finding fault
/ In everything we do?"
Rogers may have sang about a faulty relationship, however, he saw nothing wrong with the song
itself.
In fact, in 2016, he told The Boot:
"It was, I think, the first duet I had ever done.
I loved her, and I thoroughly enjoyed the song.
[It] was the song that I loved doing...I think Dottie West is one of the most unappreciated
artists ever in country music."
And Rogers might very well be right.
That might be precisely why you don't know much about the woman who accompanied him on
his very favorite duet.
Rogers was obviously fond of West, which is likely why the duo collaborated on a number
of songs together over the years.
Along with "Every Time Two Fools Collide," they also gave fans "All I Ever Need Is You"
and "What Are We Doin' in Love", just to name a few tracks they collaborated on.
While listeners adored the duets she took on with Rogers, West was also an accomplished
performer in her own right.
In fact, she became the first person to receive the Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Grammy award in 1964 for her hit "Here Comes My Baby."
Sadly, on September 4th, 1991, West passed away at the age of 58 due to injuries sustained
in a car crash.
She may have been gone, but she certainly wasn't forgotten.
In 2016, Rogers said, quote, "I'm going to do everything I can to get her into the Country
Music Hall of Fame."
Two years later, that desire became a reality.
"A sincere 'thank you' from the West family to all here from the CMA and special friends
here at the Country Music Hall of Fame for inviting our mom to join the illustrious family
here at the Country Music Hall of Fame."
Billboard explained:
"For years, the possible induction of Dottie West into the Country Music Hall of Fame has
been a rallying cry for fans and fellow artists alike.
[In March 2018], the name of Dottie West was announced as one of three new inductees into
Country Music's most exclusive club."
It's safe to say that the honor was well-deserved, as country fans everywhere can probably agree
that she contributed some absolute gems to the country music canon.
Speaking of country music gems…If you're just now learning about Kenny Rogers, "The
Gambler" from 1978 was perhaps the country crooner's most famous song, even if it wasn't
his favorite one to sing.
"The Gambler" was a country-to-pop crossover hit, and a genuine pop culture phenomenon.
As Rolling Stone put it,
"With [the song], Rogers hit a musical trifecta: a ghostly allegory built around trains, the
draw of the cards, and the wisdom of the aged...Rogers parlayed it into a mini-empire, portraying
fictional Old West gambler Brady Hawkes in five made-for-TV films from 1980 to 1994.
The song also spawned a slot machine, a book series, and Rogers' appearance in a humorous
2014 GEICO Insurance commercial, where his a cappella rendition of the song's memorable
chorus...annoys his fellow poker players."
"You've gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away,
know when to run."
"Fifteen minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance."
"Yeah.
Everybody knows that."
"Well, did you know that playing cards with Kenny Rogers gets old pretty fast?"
The dealin' may now be done for the late Rogers, but thankfully we'll always have his music.
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