Country Legend Kenny Rogers Passes Away at 81

Kenny Rogers dies at the age of 81.

The legendary country singer Kenny Rogers passes away after a glorious career that spanned over six decades.

Rogers’ family announced his death on his verified Twitter account, revealing he peacefully passed away off natural causes surrounded by his loved ones.

The artist’s publicist Keith Hagan posted a statement where he stated, “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.”

Renowned for a “distinctive, husky voice,” the artist got himself inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

The six times Country Music Award and three times Grammy Award winner sold over 50 million albums in the United States alone, topped off by as many as 24 #1 hits throughout his career.

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The Country Music Association said in a statement:

Country Music has lost the great Kenny Rogers, who has forever left a mark on Country Music’s history. His family and friends are in our thoughts during this difficult time.

Some of Kenny’s hit songs include 'Lucille' (1977), 'The Gambler' (1978), 'Coward Of The County' (1979), 'Islands in the Stream' (1982), and 'We’ve Got Tonight' (1983). Besides music, he’s acted in several movies and series, most notably 'Kenny Rogers as The Gambler' (1980), 'The NBC Mystery Movie' (1971-1977), and 'Six Pack' (1982).

Watch: Kenny Rogers - The Gambler

Back in 2015, the legendary country icon announced his retirement from music.

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.

The singer continued,

My life is about my wife and my 11-year-old twin boys right now. There are a lot of things I want to do together with them to create some special memories. I don’t have a bucket list of my own ... I have a bucket list of things I want to do with them.

As per his publicist, Rogers’ family is planning a private funeral amid the fear of the ongoing coronavirus spread across the world. Meanwhile, they look forward to celebrating the iconic artist’s life publicly with friends and fans at a much later date.

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