All rights reserved. And I don’t want to miss it. His 1978 song "The Gambler" inspired multiple TV movies, with Rogers as the main character. Footage of the 2017 concert was filmed by Blackbird Productions but went unseen until it was set for inclusion in the A&E “Biography” special airing in April. Rogers poses for a photo with members of the cast of the film "Six Pack" in 1982. He was 81. ", Kenny has had serious health issues in the past. He issued a memoir, “Luck or Something Like It,” in 2012, and a novel, “What Are the Chances,” in 2013. Feeling that the Minstrels didn’t deliver the popularity they desired, Rogers and fellow members Mike Settle, Terry Williams and Thelma Camacho left the group in 1967 (later renamed “Kenny Rogers and the First Edition”). Some of his notable acting credits include the title role in "Kenny Rogers as The Gambler" and an awesome guest-starring spot on "The Muppet Show.". “And so I did songs that were not country but were more pop. 1 country singles for UA and then Liberty in 1978-81: “Every Time Two Fools Collide,” “All I Ever Need Is You” and “What Are We Doin’ in Love.”. He had 24 No. He was known for songs such as "The Gambler," "Lady," "She Believes in Me," "Through the Years," "Lucille" and the 1983 Dolly Parton duet "Islands in the Stream. I had the pleasure of working with him over the years and I'll always remember his graciousness and kind heart. Waiting for your permission to load the comments. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to say farewell to the fans over the course of the past two years on ‘The Gambler’s Last Deal’ tour.

Rogers passed away peacefully …

", "Kenny was one of those artists who transcended beyond one format and geographic borders," Sarah Trahern, Chief Executive Officer of the Country Music Association, said in a statement. It was the most recent of a lifetime of honors bestowed on the singer, which included induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, three Grammys and six CMA Awards. Nowadays they’re not doing country songs at all. Kenny was under hospice care at the time of his passing ... according to a rep for the singer, who also says Kenny died of natural causes.

Always active on the road, Rogers announced his retirement in September 2015, not long after a widely aired commercial for Geico insurance saw him reprising “The Gambler” for comedic effect. He had a minor solo hit, “The Mad Feeling” in 1957. Here's one reason why, Republican senator's awkward debate moment may hurt her reelection bid in key state. 1 solo country singles by the end of the decade. I just had to meet her.”. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! She recalled, “I came in the next day and they all said, ‘Kenny Rogers called asking about you.’ But finally, her co-workers made it clear that they weren’t kidding, and she called Kenny.
“Lady” and “Islands in the Stream” (the latter one of many duets with frequent partner Parton) solidified his standing as country’s biggest crossover attraction; his rendering of Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight” with Sheena Easton ruled the country chart and rose to No. Hear her tough words for Trump, Filmmaker James Redford, son of Robert Redford, dies at 58, Dr. Fauci channels 'The Godfather' in response to Trump, Covid-19 tension building between Trump and Fauci, Virtual school attendance is plummeting. 6, 1969), Mel Tillis’ downbeat song about the faithless wife of a handicapped Vietnam vet. Rogers earned the prestigious honor back in September 1979. Rogers has also performed for other musicians as a producer, writer and session musician, including country artists Mickey Gilley and Eddy Arnold. Rogers' family plans a small, private service out of concern for the coronavirus pandemic, "but look forward to celebrating the life of Kenny Rogers publicly with his friends and fans at a later date," his publicist's statement said. What they’re doing is creating their own genre of country music. Rogers “passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” a representative for the singer said in a statement. The recording group for Columbia Records. ', ... By N.C. Man Arrested with Guns, Explosives. The family is holding a small private service at this time because of the national COVID-19 emergency, with a public memorial scheduled for a later date. "The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81," the Grammy-winning singer's rep said in a statement on Saturday. "They look forward to celebrating Kenny's life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date." Rogers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Country Music Association the same year. Rogers’ signature song “The Gambler” was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2018. He was 81. (CNN)Kenny Rogers, whose legendary music career spanned six decades, has died at the age of 81, his publicist Keith Hagan told CNN. By Corinne Heller 21 Mar, 2020 2:38 PM Tags Music Death Kenny Rogers Dead at Age 81 Country star Kenny Rogers has died from natural causes at age 81 on Friday, March 20, 2020, his family said. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal.

"Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family. Your source for entertainment news, celebrities, celeb news, and ​celebrity gossip. His appealing, sometimes gritty voice propelled 20 solo 45s to No. Rogers progressed from teenage rock’n’roll into psychedelic rock to become a country-pop crossover star of the 1970s and 1980s in a music career that dates back to the 1950s. The biggest of these were the Grammy-winning “The Gambler” (also No. ", "The family is planning a small private service at this time out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency," the statement continued. As he said to people, “She had the most beautiful smile. Entertainment Television, LLC A Division of NBCUniversal. From left: John Davidson, Glen Campbell, bride Marianne Gordon, Rogers and John Denver.
pic.twitter.com/hIQLIvt8pr, The artist's family announced his passing on Rogers'.

Like many another star of his era, Rogers began to fall out of fashion in the ’90s, as a younger generation of country musicians flexing a less countrypolitan style supplanted him. "I've been so lucky to have enjoyed such a long career and to have such amazing support from my fans and all who have helped me along the way, but there comes a time when I need to focus on spending time with my family," he had said, "My life is about my wife and my 11-year-old twin boys right now. Rogers records in a studio in Los Angeles in 1968. Rogers has his hands full as he balances his 13-month-old son Christopher backstage during the American Music Awards in 1983. In addition to his sterling career on the mic, Kenny also dabbled in acting, appearing in movies and on TV. Kenny Rogers poses with his guitar in the backyard of his Brentwood, California, home in 1978. Rogers married Wanda Miller on 1 June 1997 for the fifth and final time. I just worry about how much longer I’m going to be here, and I want to have time to spend with them. From the ’90s forward, as he maintained a busy touring schedule, Rogers increasingly turned his attention to various entrepreneurial enterprises, opening a chain of fast-food chicken outlets, Kenny Rogers Roasters, and a Sprint car manufacturing firm, Gamblers Chassis.

The couple had twin sons together, For more than 20 years, Kenny Rogers was married to Wanda Miller Rogers. His early professional career was stylistically eclectic. In all, he recorded 23 top 10 country hits during the decade, five of which crossed to the pop side.

From left: Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Rogers record music for the film "Tough Guys" in 1986. Today I lost one of my closest friends So much laughter so many adventures to remember, my heart is broken... My prayers go out to Kenny's Family. pic.twitter.com/2lbwFffeYq, You never know how much you love somebody until they're gone. Rogers had announced a farewell tour in 2015 and was able to keep it going through December 2017. He grew up in public housing with seven brothers, before becoming one of his generation’s most influential country musicians.

“The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25 p.m. at the age of 81. They married on June 1, 1997, in Athens, Georgia. The iconic singer was born and raised in Houston, and was the 4th of 8 children. But God bless you Kenny, fly high in to the arms of God. I've had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend. His 1978 country chart-topper “The Gambler” spawned five popular TV movies, while some of his other hits also inspired small-screen features. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. He received a similar honor from CMT with its Artist of a Lifetime Award in 2015. I could never properly thank them for the encouragement and support they’ve given me throughout my career and the happiness I’ve experienced as a result of that.”. Kenny was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013, and in 2017 he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. In April 2018, shortly before he was to spend a few months finishing out the tour after a break, he announced that he was having to call off the remaining dates (including a planned appearance at the Stagecoach Festival in California), due to unspecified “health challenges.” “I didn’t want to take forever to retire,” Rogers said his April 2018 statement. The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81.

5 on the national pop chart. Rogers was also a very successful businessman, who co-founded the restaurant chain Kenny Rogers Roasters. Rogers, who won three Grammy Awards and six CMA Awards, began his music career in the '50s as a member of a jazz trio and became a solo artist in the '70s. Tributes to the country singer poured in from fans and musical artists. Among the guests who joined him for that sentimental sendoff at the Bridgestone Arena were Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Don Henley, Kris Kristofferson, Alison Krauss, Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, the Flaming Lips and the Judds. NHL Postpones Winter Classic, All-Star Weekend Until 2022, The Best Flat-Screen TVs That Don’t Cost a Small Fortune. Rogers is a consummate storyteller, with an intimate and compelling style that almost demands the listener’s concentration. 8:04 AM PT -- Dolly Parton -- half of the famed duo that recorded "Islands in the Stream" -- just posted an emotional tribute, reassuring people Kenny's gonna go to bat for us with God ... especially now.