Few entertainers have such a flexible fan base as Kenny Rogers. He’s a fairly conventional country music star, whose signature hits “Lucille” and “The Gambler” happened more than 35 years ago.
But his canny pick of duet partners, from Kim Carnes to Dolly Parton to Ronnie Milsap, gave him some soft-rock cred, and the hippie-folk pose he struck with The First Edition before his solo fame earned him a pop-nostalgia following. He’s even popular with rappers: Coolio and Wyclef Jean each covered “The Gambler.”
Rogers has also recorded numerous Christmas albums, regularly touring in December with a show of seasonal standards. That tradition is drawing to a close with what Rogers has said is his farewell tour, behind the recently released “Once Again It’s Christmas.”
Expect a diverse crowd when he plays Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. Information: mohegansun.com
