Kenny Rogers, the gravel-voiced silver fox whose hits spanned four decades is dead at 81. According to his family, the ‘Gambler’ singer died peacefully in his sleep.
In a statement, Roger’s family said:
“The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81. Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.
In a career that spanned more than six decades, Kenny Rogers left an indelible mark on the history of American music. His songs have endeared music lovers and touched the lives of millions around the world. Chart-topping hits like “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Islands In The Stream,” “Lucille,” “She Believes In Me,” and “Through the Years”are just a handful of Kenny Rogers’ songs that have inspired generations of artists and fans alike. Rogers, with twenty-four number-one hits, was a Country Music Hall of Fame member, six-time CMA Awards winner, three-time GRAMMY® Award winner, recipient of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, CMT Artist of a Lifetime Award honoree in 2015 and has been voted the “Favorite Singer of All Time” in a joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People. “
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Never afraid to change styles, he veered seamlessly between pop and country. His biggest hit, Islands in the Stream with Dolly Parton, was produced by the Bee Gees.
The family is planning a small private service at this time out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency. They look forward to celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date.”
In addition to Rogers’ award-winning musical career, he was a busy actor who made dozens of appearances. He made five Gambler movies, based on the hit song. He also appeared in several other westerns and family movies and appeared as himself in biographical movies about Dottie West and Barbara Mandrell.
In the 1990s, he tried his hands at restaurants with the Kenny Rogers’ Roasters chain. Though initially successful, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1998.
He is survived by his fifth wife, Wanda, and five children. A & E Network will air a star-studded biography tribute to Rogers on April 13.
“Somewhere in the darkness, the gambler he broke even.” RIP Kenny.