According to a statement posted by his family, iconic country music star Kenny Rogers has died. He was 81.
The statement reads:
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.
In a career that spanned more than six decades, Kenny Rogers certainly left his mark on the history of American music.
His songs have undoubtedly touched the lives of millions around the world.
I know I remember songs like "The Gambler," "Lady," "Islands In The Stream," "Lucille," "She Believes In Me," and "Through the Years". Those are just a handful of Kenny Rogers' songs that have inspired generations of artists and fans alike.
Rogers was an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur. Of course he was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Even though he was most successful with country audiences, Rogers has charted more than 120 hit singles across various music genres, topped the country and pop album charts for more than 200 individual weeks in the United States alone, and sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Two of his albums, The Gambler and Kenny were featured in the About.com poll of "The 200 Most Influential Country Albums Ever"
The family is planning a small private service at this time out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency. They look forward to celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date.
Condolences to his family.