Exact analytical energy formula for the rotating Kratzer–Fues oscillator with (v, J)-dependent potential parameters is obtained. It was used to reproduce the spectral data generated by the vibrational transitions \(v\rightarrow v+1, v=0, 1 \ldots 7\) in \(J=0,1\ldots 47\) rotational states of dinitrogen \(^{14}\) N \(_2\) and \(^{15}\) N \(_2\) in the ground electronic state \(X^1\Sigma _g^+\) . Calculations performed for two isotopic variants enabled the selection of the mass-dependent and independent potential parameters defining the model. To check the ability of the eigenenergies derived to reproduce rotational transitions measured with kHz accuracy, calculations for \(^{74}\) Ge \(^{32}\) S, \(^{79}\) Br \(^{35}\) Cl and \(^{1}\) H \(^{35}\) Cl were performed, obtaining agreement between theoretical and experimental results. Minimum uncertainty coherent states and ladder operators for the rotating improved Kratzer–Fues oscillator are also constructed.