Kenny Rogers Announces First Christmas Album in 17 Years

Country icon Kenny Rogers has announced he’s releasing a brand new Christmas album this year, 17 years after his last yuletide record.

The new collection, called Once Again It’s Christmas, will feature appearances from other chart-topping and emerging artists, including Alison Krauss, Jennifer Nettles, Home Free, Jim Brickman and Winfield’s Locket. It’s the sixth Christmas record Rogers will release during his career, the most recent being Christmas From the Heart in 1998.

“I can’t tell you how much fun it was recording a Christmas record again,” Rogers says in a release. “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.”

Rogers has performed a Christmas & Hits tour every year since the 1981 release of his first holiday album, continuing this year for the 34th time featuring Linda Davis.

“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 adds.

Dates for this year's Christmas & Hits tour are yet to be announced.

The Grammy-winning “The Gambler” singer was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 CMA Awards. He’s sold more than 120 million albums in his career, including one chart-topping record in each of the last seven decades.

See Kenny Rogers + More Country Stars' Yearbook Photos