I suppose Willie Nelson can't have them all.
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One Kenny Rogers classic could have become just another notch under Willie Nelson's swollen belt of hits and classics. Although Rogers offered Nelson this song, the legend rejected it as he simply couldn't do another "long song."
In a 2020 interview with The Today Show, Willie Nelson dove into the time Kenny Rogers offered him "The Gambler," a song that would later achieve numerous platinum certifications and classic acclaim.
"The Gambler" is one of Kenny Rogers' most successful songs and became a staple in the culture. To think that it could have been Shotgun Willie on that track...
In the interview, he explained that he rejected the song as he couldn't bring himself to record another long song. He already had his hands full with the "Red Headed Stranger," and didn't want another lengthy tune to deal with.
I mean, the songs aren't overly long, but I guess Nelson can afford to be picky with his songs considering he has so many.
Willie Nelson Explains Why He Rejected "The Gambler"
"He tried to get me to record 'The Gambler,'" Willie Nelson explained.
"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' because I was doing every night a song called 'The Red Headed Stranger' which 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."
Nelson being his usual humble self, said that he had no regrets turning down the smash hit. "No, that was Kenny's song all the way," he said.
And I have to agree. Considering just how many hits Willie Nelson has, I'm unsure "The Gambler" would have gotten as much attention should it not have been a Kenny Rogers piece.
"The Gambler" went on to have critical success, and I can't imagine anyone but Kenny Rogers singing that song.
