Kenny Rogers’ Christmas Tour 2012 to Include Special Guests

Kenny Rogers will kick off his 31st annual Christmas & Hits tour next week. The 2012 edition will make 23 stops, debuting in Catoosa, Okla., on Nov. 23 and wrapping up Dec. 23 in Westbury, N.Y. The 74-year-old entertainer will be joined on the trek by Billy Dean, who was also along for the holiday ride last year.

"I think a Christmas audience comes to a show with a different mindset that any other," Kenny tells Billboard magazine. "A Christmas audience comes in and they say, 'I really want to enjoy this.' Someone coming into a regular show wanting to hear the hits will say, 'Make me enjoy this.' I think they're there to be happy."

The Christmas & Hits tour is exactly that -- a pairing of standards such as "White Christmas," "Silent Night" and "Joy to the World," along with Kenny's own beloved classics including "The Gambler" and "Islands in the Stream." Additionally, local choirs and children from each tour stop have been chosen to join the father of six on stage.

Kenny has two new seasonal albums out: Christmas Live!, a collection of performances from previous holiday tours, and Amazing Grace, the music legend's first gospel collection. Additionally, the "Lady" singer is hard at work on a new album for Warner Music Nashville, which is expected in 2013.

Find ticket information for Kenny's Christmas tour here.

Christmas & Hits 2012 Tour Dates:

Nov. 23 – Catoosa, OK – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – The Joint

Nov. 24 – Grand Island, NE – Heartland Events Center

Nov. 25 – Sioux Falls, SD – Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Nov. 26 – Des Moines, IA – Civic Center of Greater Des Moines

Nov. 29 – Loveland, CO – Budweiser Event Center

Nov. 30 – Mescalero, NM – Inn Of The Mountain Gods Resort & Casino

Dec. 1 – Albuquerque, NM – Route 66 Casino Hotel – Legends Theater

Dec. 2 – Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre For The Performing Arts

Dec. 4 – Richmond, KY – EKU Center For The Arts

Dec. 5 – Springfield, MO – O'Reilly Family Event Center

Dec. 7 – Baton Rouge, LA – L'Auberge Baton Rouge Casino Resort – Event Center

Dec. 8 – Baton Rouge, LA – L'Auberge Baton Rouge Casino Resort – Event Center

Dec. 10 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theatre

Dec. 12 – Green Bay, WI – Weidner Center For The Performing Arts

Dec. 13 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre

Dec. 14 – Springfield, OH – Clark State Performing Arts Center

Dec. 15 – Wabash, IN – Honeywell Center

Dec. 16 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino – Mystic Showroom

Dec. 19 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center

Dec. 20 – Verona, NY – Turning Stone Resort Casino – Event Center

Dec. 21 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino – MGM Grand Theater

Dec. 22 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Memorial Auditorium

Dec. 23 – Westbury, NY – Theatre at Westbury