Kenny Rogers brings his nearly 60 years of hits to Gallo Center

Don’t mind the calendar; for Kenny Rogers, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

The country and pop music superstar just announced the release of his first new Christmas album in 17 years. The project will come out in the fall and and include some high-profile helper elves in guest artists like Alison Krauss, Jennifer Nettles, Home Free, Jim Brickman and Winfield’s Locket. “Once Again It’s Christmas” will be Rogers’ first holiday record since 1998’s “Christmas From The Heart.”

“Christmas is my favorite time of year. It’s a very important season for me, especially now that I have twin boys who just turned 11 years old. It’s reminded me of how you see it through different eyes when you’re a parent. It’s wonderful,” Rogers said in an announcement about the album. “I can’t tell you how much fun it was recording a Christmas record again. I’m excited for people to hear it. I feel like this is a special group of songs – both old and new – and I was particularly lucky to be joined by many talented guest artists and musicians who each have something unique to say.”

But before the yuletide festivities begin, Rogers continues his Through The Years World Tour. He stops at Modesto’s Gallo Center for the Arts on Thursday, July 30, for a solo show.

The Country Music Hall of Famer has plenty to sing about besides seasonal songs, of course. Throughout his almost 60-year career, Rogers has scored 24 No. 1 hits and 12 No. 1 albums. With 120 million albums sold, he is the RIAA’s eighth best-selling male solo artist of all time. And we haven’t even started on his hardware, which includes three Grammy Awards, 19 American Music Awards, 11 People’s Choice Awards, eight Academy of Country Music awards and a 2013 CMA Lifetime Achievement Award.

With that much repertoire to choose from, Rogers said his approach to the Through the Years World Tour is simple.

“I just do all the hits I can do,” he told the Asbury Park Press earlier this month. “Every song, from start to finish, was a hit. It’s pretty safe when you do that. I put them in an order that I think is fascinating and … really, it’s just a question of pacing the show with my hits. Someone asked me if I got tired of doing the hits, and I said, ‘No, I don’t want to be the guy that goes out there without them,’ because that’s a great comfort zone.”

Over the years Rogers’ comfort zone has included many memorable duets. In 2013 he reteamed with frequent collaborator and fellow superstar Dolly Parton for the title track of his last album, 2013’s “You Can’t Make Old Friends.” The song marked Rogers’ first return to the country charts in six years. The duo had previously had monster hits with 1983’s “Islands in the Stream” and 1985’s “Real Love.”

His other duet partners have been as varied as country star Dottie West (who recorded two duet albums with Rogers in the late 1970s, “Every Time Two Fools Collide” and “Classics”), R&B hitmaker Lionel Richie (who wrote his Rogers’ chart-topping “Lady”), Eagles superstar Don Henley (on the single “Calling Me”) and the jam band Phish (they joined Rogers on stage at the 2012 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival).

Earlier this year Rogers had a special “Kenny Rogers: Through The Years” exhibit on display at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. His accompanying world tour, which included dates in Australia and South Africa, ends this fall. Then he heads right back on the road with his annual annual Christmas & Hits Tour this winter. This will be the 34th consecutive year he has done the holiday shows.

This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Kenny Rogers brings his nearly 60 years of hits to Gallo Center."