Country music legend Kenny Rogers has died at the age of 81.
Kenny’s family announced the news on Saturday morning in a post on his social media accounts.
They explained: “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.”
A statement shared online by Kenny’s publicist looked back at his career highlights, including three Grammy wins, a lifetime achievement prize at the Country Music Awards and hits like The Gambler, a reworked version of Lionel Richie’s Lady and the Dolly Parton duet Islands In The Stream.
“In a career that spanned more than six decades, Kenny Rogers left an indelible mark on the history of American music,” they said. “His songs have endeared music lovers and touched the lives of millions around the world.”
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Kenny’s family is planning a “small private service”, but they are “look[ing] forward to celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date”.
Kenny’s final album, You Can’t Make Old Friends, was released in 2013, featuring a new duet with his fellow country star Dolly Parton.
As well as his successful musical career, Kenny was also an actor, appearing alongside Diane Lane in the comedy Six Pack and the series of TV films The Gambler, inspired by his hit of the same name, which spawned two Emmy nominations.
