TORONTO — Country singer Kenny Rogers says he loves sharing the spotlight with local kids on his annual Christmas tour, but don't ever expect to see his twin six-year-old boys up there crooning alongside him.

That's just one gamble Rogers isn't willing to take.

"There is no way I would put them in that musical segment. None whatsoever," Rogers says emphatically in a recent phone interview from Minot, N.D.

"They would take the microphone and go out and talk to the people and the audience. They're uncontrollable. Six is a very dangerous age. They have enough experience on stage to not be afraid."

The amiable Rogers breaks easily into chuckles as he details his sons' exuberance for the limelight, and he's the quintessential proud papa as he boasts of their ability to learn songs quickly.

But Rogers recalled that it didn't take long for another son -- now 28 -- to sour on fame after he was brought onstage as a kid.

It's just one of the perils of working with kids, who nevertheless "can do no wrong," says the 72-year-old hitmaker.

A fixture of Rogers' holiday extravaganza is a kid-friendly musical segment in which Rogers tells a group of invited youngsters a seasonal story -- such as the origin of the classic tunes "Silent Night" or "O Holy Night" -- and leads them in song.

"Then they come out and screw it up and that's half the fun of it," says Rogers, who brings the Christmas cavalcade to Ontario and Quebec this week.

"When we start singing these songs, the choir comes out and I think it's a wonderfully majestic, simple family production."

The veteran chart-topper, whose hits include "The Gambler," "Through the Years," "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town," "Lady," and the Dolly Parton duet, "Islands In the Stream," says he loves this time of year because it gives him a chance to sing "majestic" seasonal songs that he doesn't get to sing the rest of the year.

The first half of the show features fun, holiday tunes like "Sleigh Bells," while the second half is more religious, kicked off by a duet with Wynonna Judd (via pre-taped video) of "Mary Did You Know?"

"I love duets, I'm easy to talk into those things," says Rogers, also in the midst of putting together a duets album called "Killer Combinations."

"I think everybody sings better when you do a duet. To me it's a little like running a 100-yard dash -- if someone says, 'Run it as fast as you can,' you run it as fast as you think you can. But you put someone alongside you who's a little faster, you are going to run faster."

"I did this thing with Wynonna Judd and I'm singing this little song and it's very pretty and it sounds like me and then all of a sudden she come out and I went, 'Whoa, I'm re-doing my part. You're not going to sing that against mine!"'

Rogers, who scored a Grammy for the Ronnie Milsap duet "Make No Mistake, She's Mine," says he's hoping the new disc will feature unexpected pairings. He cites hip-hop star Wyclef Jean as a dream partner.

But he's also keen to re-team with Lionel Richie for a new take on "Lady," which Richie wrote for Rogers in 1980. Rogers says his old friend is already game for the recording, but wants to put it on his album.

"After that I'm going to steal it and put it on my album," says Rogers. "He'll never know. He doesn't listen to my music, anyhow."

As for possible Cancon on the disc, Rogers says he tried to do a duet with Canadian superstar Shania Twain but the song just didn't work for them.

"And it just breaks my heart because I'd love to record with her," he says.

"The thing I've learned about duets is you never start with a partner -- you start with a song and then you say, 'Who can do this well?' And that way everybody wins."

Also on deck for Rogers is a gospel album, bound for release next year. "For the Love of God," will include a calendar of photographs he's taken on his travels.

Snapping while on tour has become a daily habit, says Rogers, who describes himself as a "good photographer who goes to great places."

But it can mean unexpected run-ins with fans, he admits.

"I always look like Nick Nolte's police shot -- my hair's sticking straight up and they say, 'You wouldn't mind if I take a picture, would you?' " he sighs.

Rogers performs in London, Ont., on Thursday; in Toronto on Friday; in Quebec City on Saturday and in Ottawa on Sunday.