The two legends behind one of the greatest songs in country music, “The Gambler,” are playing in heaven’s band now. But Blake Shelton was determined to keep the legacy of Kenny Rogers and songwriter Don Schlitz alive, and he did just that with his performance of “The Gambler” at the 2026 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. But Blake wasn’t there to cry into his beer. He made his performance of the timeless hit feel like a celebration of two hitmakers.
The way Blake sang with a twinkle in his eye and got every person in the whole room singing along made for such a cozy performance. Don Schlitz passed away on April 16, 2026, at age 73, which was one month before the 61st ACM Awards. While Blake just got up and sang, he made it clear it was a tribute to Don, as the songwriter’s name was put up in lights behind him. The Music Man has to say we’ll never get tired of hearing this classic song!
ACM Awards host Shania Twain introduced Blake’s take on “The Gambler” at the May 17, 2026, event, saying the hit was “one of the greatest songs of all time.” Viewers loved to hear the cover and added comments such as “Blake Shelton is one damn fine musician! Kenny Rogers is smiling up in heaven and approves!” and “I don’t think anyone else could have done that song justice than Blake. Similar voice, treated the song with respect and didn’t overplay it.”
Kenny Rogers not only recorded the most notable version of “The Gambler,” but he also was the master of performing it live. In The Music Man’s book, the country star dropped the most iconic version of the hit when he sang it with Lionel Richie on CMT Crossroads. The two singers were friends for decades, and their bond comes through in the duet, making for a very sweet performance. And it has to be said that Kenny and Lionel were an absolute riot when they hit the stage together – their banter is epic.
Don Schlitz wrote “The Gambler” in August 1976, at the age of 23. Don’s father had died earlier that year, and the songwriter made a connection with that, saying “Something more than me wrote that song. I’m convinced of that… It was just a song, and it somehow filtered through me.” He added that months after finishing the song, “it came to me that it was inspired by, and possibly a gift from, my father.” Don’s legacy goes far beyond the success of “The Gambler”. He scored 24 number one hits on the US Country chart. Two of his most notable number one hits are his writing collaborations with Paul Overstreet, which were Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing at All” and Randy Travis’s “Forever and Ever, Amen”. These went Platinum and double Platinum in the US respectively.
