Got A Tip? Country crossover star Kenny Rogers, known for recording enduring classics like "The Gambler," "Lucille" and "Islands in the Stream" and embraced his … But that was never my issue.”. Kenny Rogers is dead at 81. Kenny Rogers, the Country Music Hall of Famer, passed away on Friday night at the age of 81.The hitmaking singer’s death was confirmed in a post on his verified Twitter account. Kenny Rogers, who embodied “The Gambler” persona and whose musical career spanned jazz, folk, country and pop, has died at 81. Text us for exclusive photos and videos, royal news, and way more. Singer, Actor Kenny Rogers Dies At 81 - Sandy Springs, GA - The Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned multiple genres died of natural causes at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia. I wrote in my book that sometimes there’s a fine line between being driven and being selfish. “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81. My mobility is really driving me crazy.”. Vocalist Kenny Rogers, who dominated the pop and country charts in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of sleekly tailored hits and won three Grammys, has died. Among Rogers’ 39 studio albums, some well-known ones include The Gambler, Kenny, Eyes That See in the Dark, She Rides Wild Horses and Share Your Love. So, he said, ‘By the way, what’s the name of the song?’” Richie replies: “Lady.”, Over the years, Rogers worked often with female duet partners, most memorably, Dolly Parton. Richie said in a 2017 interview with the AP that he often didn’t finish songs until he had already pitched them, which was the case for “Lady.”, “In the beginning, the song was called, ‘Baby,'” Richie said. Kenny Rogers Dies At 81 The three-time Grammy-winning icon, whose hits included "Lucille," "Lady" and "The Gambler," died at home in Sandy Springs, Ga., his family said in a statement. A family representative said he "passed away peacefully at home from natural … 1 Place. Kenny Rogers had been vocal about his ailing health in recent years. A public memorial will be held at a later date. FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2017 file photo, Kenny Rogers poses with his star on the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his persona as “The Gambler” on record and on TV died Friday night, March 20, 2020. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. A country guy like him is married to a lady. Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat, Find out what your cat is trying to tell you with a new cat app, The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana, Princess Diana died when Harry was just 12 years old, Sean Connery's Cause of Death Revealed Weeks After He Dies at Age 90. Introducing ... PEOPLE's Products Worth the Hype, All In for the Gambler: Kenny Rogers' Farewell Concert Celebrati, Nashville, USA - 25 Oct 2017, 1 Night. “You either do what everyone else is doing and you do it better, or you do what no one else is doing and you don’t invite comparison,” Rogers told The Associated Press in 2015. “The family is planning a small private service at this time out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency. At the time, Rogers told Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly on the Today show that he was hoping to spend more time with his wife Wanda Miller and five kids. The music world has lost another legend. Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen contributed from Los Angeles. He appreciates the concern and well wishes he has received from his fans and can assure everyone he plans on sticking around through the years to come,” the statement continued. He was 81. Kenny Rogers was the iconic country music singer whose hit song “The Gambler” propelled ... Died at home under hospice care of natural causes at the age of 81. In a statement posted to Twitter, we learn, “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at … While the nation is in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 did not cause him to die. Rogers invested his time and money in a lot of other endeavors over his career, including a passion for photography that led to several books, as well as an autobiography, “Making It With Music.” He had a chain of restaurants called Kenny Rogers Roasters and was a partner behind a riverboat in Branson, Missouri. Kenny Rogers, the Grammy-winning country-pop pioneer whose signature gruff voice dominated the charts during the Seventies and Eighties, has died aged 81.. A … In 2000, he made his comeback on the top of the charts for the first time in more than a decade with the single “Buy Me a Rose.” And in 2008, he celebrated his 50th year in the music business with a tour that took him across the U.S. and to the U.K. and Ireland. We need Dolly Parton.’ I thought, ‘Man, that guy is a visionary.’”. His “Islands in the Stream” duet partner Dolly Parton posted a video on Twitter on Saturday morning, choking up as she held a picture of the two of them together. Coyote Ugly Turns 20: Where Is the Cast Now? He sold more than 47 million records in the United States alone, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. It lasted for two years until he was forced to cancel the last leg due to doctors’ orders. “I’m getting to where I don’t walk around well. And I think I crossed that line when I was younger,” he said. “I loved Kenny with all my heart and my heart is broken and a big ole chunk of it is gone with him today," Parton said in the video. Kenny Rogers, the beloved country music icon whose decades of hits included "The Gambler" and "Islands in the Stream" with Dolly Parton, has died at age 81. Singer Kenny Rogers died Friday night, according to a statement from representative Keith Hagan. They’re very important to me and I don’t see enough of them.”. “It took on a whole new spirit.”. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The Houston-born performer with the husky voice and silver beard sold tens of millions of records, won three Grammys and was the star of TV movies based on “The Gambler” and other songs, making him a superstar in the ‘70s and ’80s. He was 81 years old. A true rags-to-riches story, Rogers was raised in public housing in Houston Heights with seven siblings. “He was a global superstar who helped introduce country music to audiences all around the world.". Over his illustrious five decades-long career, Rogers sold more than 100 million records and won three Grammys, 18 American Music Awards, and a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Rogers is the subject of an A&E Biography episode airing in April Country superstar Kenny Rogers has died at the age of 81. 1 country song in 13 years. … “Due to recent wild misinformation and speculation from several media outlets, we are issuing the following statement on behalf of Kenny Rogers: Kenny was recently admitted to a local Georgia hospital and treated for dehydration,” the statement from his rep read. The two were paired at the suggestion of the Bee Gees’ Barry Gibb, who wrote “Islands in the Stream.”, “Barry was producing an album on me and he gave me this song,” Rogers told the AP in 2017. His biggest hits included his signature song “The Gambler,” “Lucille,” “Ruby,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream”—his beloved duet with Dolly Parton which reached No. He was 81. Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” the singer’s family said in a statement released on his social media early Saturday. Kenny Rogers Biography Kenny Rogers, a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, passed away at home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on 20 March 2020. In 2013, Rogers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, along with Cowboy Jack Clement and Bobby Bare. The band reformed as First Edition and scored a pop hit with the psychedelic song, “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).” Rogers and First Edition mixed country-rock and folk on songs like “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town,” a story of a Vietnam veteran begging his girlfriend to stay. RELATED: Remembering the Stars We’ve Lost in 2020. “Kenny was one of those artists who transcended beyond one format and geographic borders,” says Sarah Trahern, chief executive officer of the Country Music Association. Despite his crossover success, he always preferred to be thought of as a country singer. 1 Time: A Heroes & Friends Tribute to Randy Travis, hoping to spend more time with his wife Wanda Miller and five kids. He was 81. If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Country Music Hall of Fame Singer Kenny Rogers Dies at 81. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. The statement said Rogers died "peacefully … “I swore that I would do this until I embarrassed myself,” he said. Schlitz noted that some of Rogers’ biggest hits were songs that had been recorded previously, but his versions became the most popular. His final tour was named, The Gambler’s Last Deal. The singer reportedly died peacefully from natural causes. Credit: Donn Jones/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock. His doctors fully expect the outcome to be great, but they have advised him to cancel all performances through the end of the year to focus on recuperation.”. Kenny Rogers, Who Brought Country Music to a Pop Audience, Dies at 81 One of the first country artists to sell out arenas, Mr. Rogers sold more than … His final concert took place on Oct. 25, 2017, at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Rogers, a crossover icon and Houston native, died at 10:25 p.m. Friday at the age of 81, "peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family." “He will remain there to complete some physical therapy to get his strength back prior to discharge. He died at home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, representative Keith Hagan told The Associated Press. “The Gambler” had been recorded six other times before Rogers and “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” by Mel Tillis, was also recorded by other artists before Rogers. “And I went and learned it and went into the studio and sang it for four days. “I’ve done this long enough. The family of Kenny Rogers announced Saturday morning that he passed away Friday evening at the age of 81. Kenny Rogers, the Grammy-winning country music singer behind such hits as “The Gambler” and “Islands in the Stream,” died Friday night. They look forward to celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date,” the statement said. (CNN) Kenny Rogers, whose legendary music career spanned six decades, has died at the age of 81, his publicist Keith Hagan told CNN. He was honored with an all-star concert in October 2017 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena that featured performances by Lionel Richie, Little Big Town, the Judds and longtime duet partner Parton. “I really want to be there with my kids and my wife. Producers of the series “Touched By An Angel” wanted him to appear in an episode, and one of his managers suggested the episode be based on his latest single. "In … In an April 2018 statement, his rep told PEOPLE: “Kenny Rogers has been working through a series of health challenges. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File). Rogers, who was born in Houston, Texas, on Aug. 21, 1938, kicked off his music career in 1957 with his first song titled, “That Crazy Feeling” before finding fame with his cross-genre group, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, and band members Mike Settle, Terry Williams, Thelma Camacho and Kin Vassy. He was a co-founder of the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters in collaboration with former Kentucky Fried Chicken CEO John Y. Video / CBS This Morning. The Grammy-winning singer passes away "peacefully at home from natural causes." View gallery: Kenny Rogers… Country superstar Kenny Rogers has died at the age of 81. Crossover country superstar Kenny Rogers dies at 81 Share this: Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) ... 2017 file photo, Kenny Rogers poses with his star on the Music City Walk of … Over the years the two would continue to record together, including their last duet, “You Can’t Make Old Friends,” which was released in 2013. Actor, singer, 'The Gambler': Kenny Rogers dies at 81. American country music legend Kenny Rogers has died aged 81. Rogers had acting roles in movies and television shows, including the title roles in Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, the MacShayne series for The NBC Mystery Movie, and the 1982 feature film Six Pack. Kenny Rogers has died, according to his publicist, Keith Hagan. The news shocked the world late Friday (March 20th) night when it was announced on Rogers’ social media accounts. Still he was an inventive businessman and never stopped trying to find his way back onto the charts. He was 81. Brown Jr. You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications. He was under hospice care and died of natural causes, Hagan said. He received 10 awards from the Academy of Country Music. Representative Keith Hogan told the Associated Press that he was being put into hospice care. Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his … He … Rogers is survived by his wife, Wanda, and his sons Justin, Jordan, Chris and Kenny Jr., as well as two brothers, a sister and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, his representative said. On May 31, 2019, spokespeople for the star said that Rogers was hospitalized but in stable health. Crossover country superstar Kenny Rogers dies at 81 Kenny Rogers, who embodied “The Gambler” persona and whose musical career spanned jazz, folk, country and pop, has died at 81 By KRISTIN M. HALL AP Entertainment Writer March 21, 2020, 11:30 AM Singer, actor, ‘The Gambler’: Kenny Rogers dies at 81 The Houston-born performer with the husky voice and silver beard sold tens of millions of … “And because when I first sat with him, for the first 30 minutes, all he talked about was he just got married to a real lady. Rogers was a five-time CMA Award winner, as well as the recipient of the CMA's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, the same year he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. After almost a decade, the band disbanded in 1976 and Rogers started his solo career with his first album Love Lifted Me, which was released that same year. Rogers was hospitalized for dehydration last May. And I finally looked at him and said, ‘Barry, I don’t even like this song anymore.’ And he said, ‘You know what we need? By the '90s, his ability to chart hits had waned, although he still remained a popular live entertainer with regular touring. That cross-promotional event earned him his first No. During his six-decade, genre-hopping career, Rogers released 65 … Other hits included “You Decorated My Life,” “Every Time Two Fools Collide” with Dottie West, “Don’t Fall In Love with a Dreamer” with Kim Carnes, and “Coward of the County.” One of his biggest successes was “Lady,” written by Lionel Richie, a chart topper for six weeks straight in 1980. “From the moment she marched into that room, that song never sounded the same,” Rogers said. But his breakthrough came when he was asked to join the New Christy Minstrels, a folk group, in 1966. As a 20-year-old, he had a gold single called “That Crazy Feeling,” under the name Kenneth Rogers, but when that early success stalled, he joined a jazz group, the Bobby Doyle Trio, as a standup bass player. During the same interview, Rogers made references to his ailing health, saying that he was “sure” he would miss touring. He was 81. In addition to his solo music, Rogers amassed a large following well beyond the country-music world thanks to collaborations with artists such as Richie, Lynda Carter and Barry Gibb, as well as 1985’s charity song “We Are the World” with 45 other musicians. “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers … “And I chose that way because I could never be better than Johnny Cash or Willie or Waylon at what they did. Rogers thrived for some 60 years before retired from touring in 2017 at age 79. 1 on the pop charts in 1983. Parton reprised “Islands in the Stream” with Rogers during his all-star retirement concert held in Nashville in October 2017. Kenny Rogers is dead at 81. Coincidentally, Parton was actually in the same recording studio in Los Angeles when the idea came up. Skip to main content. “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25 p.m. at the age of 81. He was 81. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop with such hits as “Lucille,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” and embraced his persona as “The Gambler” on records and on TV, died Friday night. The two singers toured together, including in Australia and New Zealand in 1984 and 1987, and were featured in a HBO concert special. According to a statement posted by his family on Twitter, the … He was also involved in numerous charitable causes, among them the Red Cross and MusiCares, and was part of the all-star “We are the World” recording for famine relief. And I think people thought it was my desire to change country music. Country music star Kenny Rogers died Friday night in Sandy Springs, GA. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Kenny Rogers, who moved fluidly between country and pop music for much of his long career, died March 20 at home of natural causes in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Rogers passed away … “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25 p.m. at the age of 81. Actor, singer, 'The Gambler': Kenny Rogers dies at 81. Suddenly the star, Rogers added hit after hit for more than a decade. ... Rogers was 81 years old. “The Gambler,” the Grammy-winning story song penned by Don Schlitz, came out in 1978 and became his signature song with a signature refrain: “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ’em.” The song spawned a hit TV movie of the same name and several more sequels featuring Rogers as professional gambler Brady Hawkes, and led to a lengthy side career for Rogers as a TV actor and host of several TV specials. The family is planning a private service “out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency,” a statement posted early Saturday read. Rogers died Friday night at age 81 from natural causes at home in Georgia, his rep confirmed in a statement. After the group broke up in 1974, Rogers started his solo career and found a big hit with the sad country ballad “Lucille,” in 1977, which crossed over to the pop charts and earned Rogers his first Grammy. At the age of 61, Rogers had a brief comeback on the country charts in 2000 with a hit song “Buy Me A Rose,” thanks to his other favorite medium, television. 21 Mar, 2020 05:28 PM 6 minutes to read. But in 2015, he announced his retirement. “I think the best that any songwriter could hope for is to have Kenny Rogers sing one of your songs,” said Schlitz, who also co-wrote the other Parton-Rogers duet “You Can’t Make Old Friends.” “He gave so many career songs to so many of us.”. 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