The Gambler, Kenny Rogers, Didn't Know When to 'Hold-em'

by Bill Russo - Bill's books are available on...

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It has been two years (as of 2019) since he gave his last concert, but Kenny Rogers is fondly remembered by the more than one hundred million people who paid to download his tunes, or bought his 45s and albums back in the day.  

He's the guy who made poker one of the most well known of the old west games with his soulful 'The Gambler' song in the early 1980s. 

"You got to know when to hold-em...and know when to fold-em".

The 80 year old  Rogers has long been a staple of the country and pop music scenes for about seven decades, dating all the way back to the 1950s.  He has had mega hits by himself; with the First Edition, and in duets with Dolly Parton and Dotty West. 

Five times 'The Gambler' got married - four times he 'folded-em.  

On the fifth try, back in 97 of the last century, he decided to 'hold-em' and he's been wedded to Wanda (Miller) Rogers ever since. 

During most of his career Rogers 'rocked' looking old.  Even in the 50s, his light beard and hair gave him a rugged, weathered appearance that helped him 'sell' his tunes.  At the height of his popularity in the 1970s he was still in his 30s but retained the seasoned, oldtimer look that helped lend credibility to his music. 

By 1990 Rogers felt that he was looking too old to continue as a major star.  He started exploring plastic surgery.  Sadly, it seems like his explorations didn't go deep enough - but the doctor's knife went too deep.  After spending a fortune on his face, most people think he ruined it.  

Here's the Before and the After.....you be the judge.

Kenny Rogers plastic surgery was a disaster. He went in to have the aging look taken care of and ended up looking like a balloon ready to burst. This is a sore spot for Rogers as he has admitted to several reporters that this is not the way he hoped to look, but that it's the hand he got dealt. He knows all too well that the skin around his eyes is pulled too tight and that his face looks like it may rip open. 

So Dear Reader, if you are getting up there in years and are thinking of plastic surgery - think twice.  Do you want to gamble like the gambler?

You gotta know when to fold-em, and you gotta know when to hold-em!

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