Alive and kicking, honors follow Kenny Rogers as he releases new album

Kenny Rogers didn’t have to wait until his condition was post-mortem to see a couple of major honors.

First came October’s induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. That was followed by a tribute at the Country Music Association Awards, where stars including Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles serenaded Rogers with his own hits before presenting him with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Both honors fell about the time the 75-year-old released a new album, “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” singing the title track with Dolly Parton.

“Country music should make you laugh, make you cry or make you think. If it doesn’t do one of those three things, then you’re wasting everybody’s time,” Rogers told the Review-Journal a few years ago.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.