Kenny Rogers, the country musician behind such hits as “The Gambler”, and “Lady” has passed on aged 81, his family announced early today (Saturday).
“Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” according to a statement from his management firm, SKH Music.
The statement said his family plans a small private service due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Rogers family said that Rogers passed away at 10:25pm.
The three-time Grammy winner and county music icon Dolly Parton were frequent collaborators and paired to make some of country music’s most enduring duets, including “Islands in the Stream,” “Love is Strange,” “Real Love,” and “You Can’t Make Old Friends.”
In 2015, Rogers announced that after spending more than 50 years in the business, he planned to retire and told NBC’s “Today” then that he was saying goodbye.
“I’ve done this long enough,” the Texas native said, adding that he wanted to spend more time with his children.
Rogers had 24 number-one hits over his career and is a six-time County Music Association winner. He had Grammy awards and was nominated 19 times.
Rogers joins famous Congolese Soukous musician, Aurlus Mabele, who died on Thursday this same week.
