Kenny Rogers Receives Honorary Master of Photography Degree

Kenny Rogers received an honorary master of photography degree from PPA at Imaging USA
on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Photo by Jose Yau.

On the heels of his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013, Kenny Rogers picked up another career achievement last week in Phoenix, though he was celebrated not for his music or decades-long career, but for his talent and enthusiasm for photography.

Rogers received an honorary master of photography degree from Professional Photographers of America (PPA) at its annual conference, Imaging USA, during the PPA Award & Degree ceremony.

The ceremony took place Tuesday night, Jan. 14, at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, where more than 145 award and degree recipients were honored. Prior to the ceremony, he gave an exclusive live Q&A with convention-goers, discussing his life and work. Rogers also shared photos from his forthcoming photography book, Places I’ve Been, Things I’ve Seen.

Imaging USA is the longest-running photography convention and expo in the nation. Up to 10,000 photographers attended, seeking education, inspiration, networking, exclusive parties and one of the nation’s largest photography trade shows to help boost their business for the year ahead.

“We could see in his work that Mr. Rogers is an accomplished photographer, but when we approached him about the honorary master’s degree, we were immediately impressed with his enthusiasm for photography,” said PPA president, Ralph Romaguera Sr., M.Photog.Cr., CPP, API, F-ASP. “He’s obviously well-known as an entertainer, but he truly is a remarkably talented photographer.”

“You start off doing something because you really love it, and it gives you great pleasure,” Rogers said. “With any luck at all, you get better. It was special to receive the highest honor that my photography has to offer. I felt a little intimidated but very flattered and somehow undeserving. What a thrill!”