Lebanon, TN (Top40 Charts/ Webster PR) Kenny Rogers' newest release illustrates his artistic talent without making a sound. An accomplished photographer, Rogers took photos of churches while on tour in the United States and
Europe and assembled them in a special 18-month calendar. It is a fitting follow up to his recent release of his first-ever inspirational album, The Love of God, through the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store(R) exclusive music program. Both the CD and the calendar are available exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations.
The calendar is a first for Rogers, who is always looking for something creative to do. "I think I'm a person who loves to create beauty, so doing my own landscaping and doing my own interior decorating and creating music are all forms of beauty in just a different way. And that's what drives me - getting up in the morning and having something to do that's creative," said Rogers. "Until I started photographing churches, I never realized how many beautiful churches there are in this world. There are big churches and little churches, but they were all built quite simply for the love of God. That's very impressive to me," explained Rogers.
"Kenny Rogers' artistic talent shines through the photos on every page of this calendar," said Chris Ciavarra, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Cracker Barrel. "We're pleased to be able to share it with our guests alongside his inspirational CD The Love of God. Both are firsts for Kenny and for Cracker Barrel."
The CD is Rogers' first authentic Gospel album featuring twelve new recordings of songs that have touched him musically and spiritually through the years. And it's the first time an artist has released a second album through the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store exclusive music program.
Printed on glossy paper stock, the 12-inch square calendar opens to 12" x 24" with space to write appointments. The 2011-2012 calendar begins in July 2011 and is available exclusively at Cracker Barrel for $14.99.
On March 7, 2011, Cracker Barrel released Kenny Rogers' The Love of God which debuted at #8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, #2 on the Top Christian Albums chart and at #31 on the overall Billboard 200. In January 2011, Cracker Barrel released The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin which debuted at #1 on Billboard magazine's Bluegrass Albums chart and at #26 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. In November of 2010, Cracker Barrel released Smokey Robinson's Now & Then which debuted at #19 on Billboard magazine's R&B chart and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. September saw the release of the self-titled Rodney Atkins, which includes four #1 hits, and also the release of Mandy Barnett's Winter Wonderland, which offers up all the authentic sounds of holiday traditions. In July, the company released Craig Morgan's That's Why-Collector's Edition, and in May the release of Wynonna's Love Heals debuted at #7 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart. February's release of Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Bluegrass Albums chart, where it spent nine weeks in the top position and 18 weeks overall in one of the three top positions. One of its songs was nominated for a Grammy award(R). Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs with Alan Jackson, the Zac Brown Band, George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, Dolly Parton, Bill Gaither, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Tippin, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Kenny Rogers, Sara Evans, and Charlie Daniels.
