Christmas is an important time of the year for Country Music Hall of Fame member Kenny Rogers. The native Texan recently released his sixth Yuletide album, Once Again It’s Christmas, on Warner Bros. Records, and he sat down recently with Myspace to discuss his memories of the season, and what makes an interesting holiday album.

It goes without saying that you have a great track record with holiday records—with two double-platinum and two gold records for your previous efforts. What, in your opinion, makes a Christmas record stand out?

When the public goes to buy a Christmas album, they don’t really care who you are as much as they are looking for memories. They’ll look at the list of songs, and if they don’t recognize a few of them, they will not buy it. So, I had to include a few old songs on there, like “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” or “The Little Drummer Boy.”

Speaking of “The Little Drummer Boy,” listening to your version brings to mind Harry Belafonte’s version. There’s a definite jazz lean to the track, which makes sense, because that’s where you got your start, correct?

I think that description fits more than any other. Of course, the songs have to lend themselves to it, and the producers have to understand what you’re trying to accomplish. But, at the same time, you want to keep it simple, so the average person can still identify. Music is still the great memory maker, and somewhere, someone heard “The Little Drummer Boy” when they were a kid, and it made a great impression on them. So, when they hear it again, it always goes back to that feeling. You want to be careful that you don’t do such an abstract version of things that it no longer carries the weight of the memory. I try to put my own stamp on things, otherwise, there’s no point in me doing it. You can always buy Harry Belafonte’s record.

What were some of your memories of the holidays, growing up in Houston?

When I was a kid, we’d ask my dad what he wanted for Christmas each year. He’d say, “I don’t care. Christmas is Christmas. Get me whatever you want.” We went to Church one day, and came home. My dad was laying on the floor underneath the Christmas tree, opening up the end of one of his gifts to see what it was. We busted him! It made us realize that while he didn’t care about the gifts, he did care about it symbolically. My dad was religious, and there were eight siblings in the family. They all played musical instruments, and he played the fiddle. After he died, I felt bad because I hadn’t taken the time to realize why he was an alcoholic. He came up after the war and didn’t have any great skills. It was after the war, and he couldn’t provide for his family. It just killed him that we lived in the projects, that we got food stamps, and the Salvation Army used to bring us food and gifts at Christmas. That was why he started drinking—escapism. But, he had a great sense of humor, and made me laugh whenever I was around him.

Contrast that with your memories of Christmas as a father.

I’ve never seen anything like it. My twins, Jordan and Justin, are going to wind up being 6’3 or 6’4. I can’t tell if they still really believe in Santa, or if it’s how they think they get their gifts. We let them open gifts from me and Wanda on Christmas Eve. Then, they go to bed and get up about 5:30 in the morning, go downstairs, and they still get excited. They love their gifts, go to Church and sing Christmas songs. I think as they get older, they will have great memories of Christmas. You let children believe as long as they say they do. When they stop believing, they will tell you. I remember one year, my son Kenny, Jr. said, “Santa’s not going to come tonight.” I asked him why, and he said, “We don’t have a fireplace.” I told him I’d leave the back door open.

One of the highlights of the new album is “Children, Go Where I Send Thee,” which you recorded with a capella sensation Home Free. Tell us about that track.

I think this song is wonderful. They are so talented, and seemed so excited to be there. According to the history of the song, the slave women were out in the fields, and they used to sing this at Christmas time. They would send the kids they couldn’t take care of to different places. It turned out really good.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since you were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Have you gotten used to that distinction yet

I still love the sound of that. Every now and then, my boys will ask me why it took so long for me to get into the Country Music Hall of Fame. I tell them that the important thing is not when, but that you get in.