Top 5 Reasons Why Kenny Rogers' Bonnaroo Set Was Better Than Your Favorite Band

FUSE TV - Top 5 Reasons Why Kenny Rogers' Bonnaroo Set Was Better Than Your Favorite Band

I know what you're thinking: Kenny Rogers? The country singer? The hold 'em/fold 'em guy? Why are you writing about his Bonnaroo set? I could be looking at your Best Photos or Day 4 Highlights or really anything else. Why do I care?

Why? Because he delivered the most exciting set of the day and brought out the best guest of the festival not named D'Angelo. Here are five reasons why I went into the show expecting nothing and came out writing this post:

5. He Mocks Himself
"Kenny Rogers and Bonnaroo: What's wrong with this picture?" said the singer at the start of the set. "But I belong here. Know how I know? I have a bracelet." Throughout the 75-minute set, Rogers made fun of himself multiple times, genuinely perplexed why Bonnaroo organizers would want to book a singer with more than 120 charted singles and one of the most influential catalogs in country and pop music. At one point, Rogers referenced his 1977 hit "Lucille," among others, and noted, "I've made a hell of a career singing about dysfunctional families."

4. He Mocks His Audience
At 73, Rogers is allowed to have his "Get off my lawn" Eastwood-in-Gran-Turino side, as the singer jokingly berated the multi-generational crowd for their lack of singing, clapping and swaying skills. "I just have to say you guys are terrible singers," said Rogers repeatedly. "They did it better in Quebec and they don't even speak English." The singer was no kinder to those who swayed during one song: "For God's sake, quit swaying. You look like thousands of Ray Charles." The pseudo-anger was only temporary, as Rogers threw out multiple tambourines into the crowd later on.

3. He Only Played the Hits
"My audience is made up of two kinds of people," said Rogers. "Those born after the '60s and those born before that, but don't remember the '60s. So I'm gonna do every hit I've ever had." He did just that, ensuring even casual fans recognized songs like "Through the Years," "Islands in the Stream" and "The Gambler." Rogers also performed 1978's "She Believes in Me," which he called "his personal favorite."

2. He Received the Key to the City
"Um, I'm not really sure how to set this up," admitted Rogers. Fans began to speculate on special guests or an unexpected cover, only to see Betty Superstein, mayor of Manchester (Bonnaroo's home city), join Rogers onstage with various city councilpersons and a local teacher to present the singer with the Key to the City. While it's unclear when Rogers will return to Manchester and, if so, which doors he will need to open, it was a poignant gesture, as the singer joins past Key recipients B.B. King, Kris Kristofferson and 8-year-old crime-fighter Landon Crabtree.

1. He Brought Out Lionel Richie
Midway through his 1980 romantic ballad "Lady," Rogers was joined onstage by the song's writer and producer Lionel Richie, who is still cooler than all of us. Clad in all-black with black sunglasses, the R&B singer and longtime friend of Rogers sang a loose, rambunctious version of the song with his mentor, with the duo performing most of the song with their arms around the other's shoulder. "That was so close to being an unhealthy relationship," said Rogers. Richie subsequently sat Rogers down on a stool and performed his 1983 R&B-pop hit "All Night Long." The connection to Rogers was nil, but who cares when thousands of people are screaming, "Jambo jumbo!"?

Kendrick Lamar Interview - Festivals: Bonnaroo

2m

Kendrick Lamar Interview - Festivals: Bonnaroo

Better Criminal

1h 27m

Better Criminal

Key Glock Takes A Lie Detector Test: Is He A Better Rapper Than Young Dolph

5m

Key Glock Takes A Lie Detector Test: Is He A Better Rapper Than Young Dolph

Javon Walton & Jason Genao Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

5m

Javon Walton & Jason Genao Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

Eva Longoria & Noah Cyrus Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

5m

Eva Longoria & Noah Cyrus Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

Tyler "Ninja" Blevins & Syd Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

6m

Tyler "Ninja" Blevins & Syd Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

Amara La Negra & KYLE Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

5m

Amara La Negra & KYLE Share Their Top 5 Kitchen Essentials

More Than A Model

22m

More Than A Model

Bambiana's Touching Favorite Moment From Season 1

1m

Bambiana's Touching Favorite Moment From Season 1

Bionka's Wild Favorite Moment From Season 1

1m

Bionka's Wild Favorite Moment From Season 1

LA's Emotional Favorite Moment From Season 1

1m

LA's Emotional Favorite Moment From Season 1

Nya's Twerktastic Favorite Moment From Season 1

54s

Nya's Twerktastic Favorite Moment From Season 1

Xristina's Hilarious Favorite Moment From Season 1

41s

Xristina's Hilarious Favorite Moment From Season 1

Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends

57m

Jennifer Aniston: More Than Friends

Who's On Top?

1h 13m

Who's On Top?

Carlos Niño Shares His All-Time Favorite Record

2m

Carlos Niño Shares His All-Time Favorite Record

Why This Show Exists?

8m

Why This Show Exists?

Nicole Scherzinger & Her Sister Cook Her Family's Favorite Meal

2m

Nicole Scherzinger & Her Sister Cook Her Family's Favorite Meal

Top 14 Musician-Actors

41m

Top 14 Musician-Actors

Find Your Inspiration

20m

Find Your Inspiration

Pop Your Podcast

21m

Pop Your Podcast

Big Freedia and Her Favorite Divas Link Up: Girl Down

2m

Big Freedia and Her Favorite Divas Link Up: Girl Down

Roddy Ricch & His Grandmother Reminisce While Cooking His Favorite Meal

2m

Roddy Ricch & His Grandmother Reminisce While Cooking His Favorite Meal

Papa Racist John's | Hot Tops

2m

Papa Racist John's | Hot Tops

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

21m

Why Is He Blowing Me Kisses?

Recycle Your Baby Clothes

42m

Recycle Your Baby Clothes

Clap Your Hands, Everybody

21m

Clap Your Hands, Everybody

Thirst Day Was The Worst Day

20m

Thirst Day Was The Worst Day

Jesus Was a Homeless Baby Too

21m

Jesus Was a Homeless Baby Too

Kiana Ledé Does ASMR with Takis, Talks Staying Grounded & Favorites On “KIKI”

10m

Kiana Ledé Does ASMR with Takis, Talks Staying Grounded & Favorites On “KIKI”

What's In Your Fridge: Smino

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Smino

What's In Your Fridge: Dumbfoundead

2m

What's In Your Fridge: Dumbfoundead

What's In Your Fridge: Tinashe

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Tinashe

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

1m

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

What's In Your Fridge: G-Eazy

57s

What's In Your Fridge: G-Eazy

Can You Keep Your Wishing Down?

21m

Can You Keep Your Wishing Down?

What's In Your Fridge: Omar Apollo

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Omar Apollo

In Your B.A.S.E.

22m

In Your B.A.S.E.

What's In Your Fridge: Joyce Wrice

2m

What's In Your Fridge: Joyce Wrice

What's In Your Fridge: Guapdad 4000

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Guapdad 4000

What's In Your Fridge: Maria Isabel

1m

What's In Your Fridge: Maria Isabel

Melanie Martinez Was Babysitting During Her Debut Performance

1m

Melanie Martinez Was Babysitting During Her Debut Performance

As Told By Michael Jackson's Glove: Hot Tops

3m

As Told By Michael Jackson's Glove: Hot Tops

What's In Your Fridge: A$AP Ferg

2m

What's In Your Fridge: A$AP Ferg

Wearing Your Shower Curtain to the Club

41m

Wearing Your Shower Curtain to the Club

Quando Rondo Takes A Lie Detector Test: Which is Better "Life B4 Fame" or "QPac"?

8m

Quando Rondo Takes A Lie Detector Test: Which is Better "Life B4 Fame" or "QPac"?

Jason Markk Delivers Premium Care For Your Kicks

3m

Jason Markk Delivers Premium Care For Your Kicks

Let's Puff Puff Pass This Entire 2020 Election: Hot Tops

4m

Let's Puff Puff Pass This Entire 2020 Election: Hot Tops

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

2m

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

Todrick Hall Reveals First Big Paycheck and Why Unfollowing Beyonce is Blasphemous

3m

Todrick Hall Reveals First Big Paycheck and Why Unfollowing Beyonce is Blasphemous

Mahalia Takes A Lie Detector Test: Was She Really A Bad Roommate?

9m

Mahalia Takes A Lie Detector Test: Was She Really A Bad Roommate?

Salem Ilese Takes A Lie Detector Test: Why Is She Really "Mad At Disney"?

5m

Salem Ilese Takes A Lie Detector Test: Why Is She Really "Mad At Disney"?

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

2m

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

Jufu Does ASMR with Ramen, Shares Tips For TikTok & Being Your Authentic Self

8m

Jufu Does ASMR with Ramen, Shares Tips For TikTok & Being Your Authentic Self

The Chainsmokers Like To Keep Their Performances Fresh

2m

The Chainsmokers Like To Keep Their Performances Fresh

Poetry in Falsetto

21m

Poetry in Falsetto

Rolling Stones: Rock Royalty

59m

Rolling Stones: Rock Royalty

Russ Rivas, Bill Santiago

45m

Russ Rivas, Bill Santiago

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Wilmer Valderrama Meets His Puppet

56s

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Wilmer Valderrama Meets His Puppet

Indonesia, Bali

21m

Indonesia, Bali

Taiwan, China

21m

Taiwan, China

Cobra Starship

22m

Cobra Starship

Metallica: Masters of Metal

1h 3m

Metallica: Masters of Metal

Eastern Europe, Israel

21m

Eastern Europe, Israel

Japan, Singapore

21m

Japan, Singapore

What's It Gonna Be, Boys?

21m

What's It Gonna Be, Boys?

Freddie Mercury: The Ultimate Showman

57m

Freddie Mercury: The Ultimate Showman

Bon Jovi: No End in Sight

47m

Bon Jovi: No End in Sight

Russia

21m

Russia

Coast

1h 39m

Coast

NOFX Backstage Passport

NOFX Backstage Passport

Bolkow Castle Party

21m

Bolkow Castle Party

Pepe Aguilar

22m

Pepe Aguilar

South Africa

21m

South Africa

Rudimental

10m

Rudimental

Undercover Moves

22m

Undercover Moves

Uncut Gems

42m

Uncut Gems

The Great Director

23m

The Great Director

Rio de Janeiro, Medellín, Santiago

21m

Rio de Janeiro, Medellín, Santiago

More Rapid-Fire Questions

1m

More Rapid-Fire Questions

The Beatles: In the Life

1h 2m

The Beatles: In the Life

Nobody

10m

Nobody

The Right Girls

1h 22m

The Right Girls

Papa You Are My Dad

21m

Papa You Are My Dad

Gene Pompa, Richard Daryl Osbourn

45m

Gene Pompa, Richard Daryl Osbourn

CNCO Takes A Lie Detector Test

4m

CNCO Takes A Lie Detector Test

Reality Checks

20m

Reality Checks

Casey Brings Her Hosting Skills To iCandy Nightclub

1m

Casey Brings Her Hosting Skills To iCandy Nightclub

Trippie Redd Upgrades Instant Noodles Into A $380 Bowl of Ramen

14m

Trippie Redd Upgrades Instant Noodles Into A $380 Bowl of Ramen

Fame Kills: Whitney Houston

50m

Fame Kills: Whitney Houston

Alex & Jaime

1h 27m

Alex & Jaime

Feat. Erik Griffin

22m

Feat. Erik Griffin

Feat. Mal Hall

22m

Feat. Mal Hall

Fan or Fanatic

24m

Fan or Fanatic

Sam and Mattie Make a Zombie Movie

1h 42m

Sam and Mattie Make a Zombie Movie

Dreezy Upgrades A Peanut Butter & Jelly Into $834 Gold Encrusted Sandwich

12m

Dreezy Upgrades A Peanut Butter & Jelly Into $834 Gold Encrusted Sandwich

Work Hard, Play Hard

20m

Work Hard, Play Hard

Feat. Debra DiGiovanni

22m

Feat. Debra DiGiovanni

Javon Walton

21m

Javon Walton

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information