House Democrat sings 'The Gambler' during eulogy for songwriter

Judy Kurtz

The Hill

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21.04.2026

House Democrat sings ‘The Gambler’ during eulogy for songwriter

A Tennessee Democrat is offering a musical ode following the death of a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singing a Kenny Rogers tune on the floor of the House.

“You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, know when to run,” Rep. Steve Cohen sang on Monday, reciting the lyrics from Rogers’s 1978 song, “The Gambler.”

“‘The Gambler’ was performed by, successfully by, Kenny Rogers, but it was written by Don Schlitz,” Cohen said.

“Don Schlitz was 23 years old when he wrote that song. He was one of the greatest songwriters of our time.”

Schlitz died Thursday at 73.

“What a career he had,” Cohen, 76, said.

Cohen also ticked off some of Schlitz’s biggest chart-topping hits, including Mary Chapin Carpenter’s “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” “Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis, and “Forty Hour Week” by Alabama.

“He was also a friend of mine. He was a wonderful human being with a big heart,” Cohen said as he remembered Schlitz.

“He used to call me ‘his congressman,’ even though he lived in Nashville and I was in Memphis,” he said.

“God bless you, my friend, Don Schlitz.”

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House Democrat sings 'The Gambler' during eulogy for songwriter

Judy Kurtz

© The Hill