Legendary vocalist Kenny Rogers died Friday at 81.
The music icon passed away at 10:25 p.m. from natural causes under the care of a hospice and surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement from the family. Rogers’s family will hold a “small private service” to honor him. The family also said they plan on “celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date” as health officials discourage large gatherings while the coronavirus pandemic spreads.
Recommended Stories
He held a farewell tour in 2015 and kept going through December 2017, but had to call it off months later. In April 2018, with only a few months remaining on the tour, he canceled remaining shows because of unspecified “health challenges.”
“I didn’t want to take forever to retire,” Rogers said his April 2018 statement, according to Variety. “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. 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.”
He was known for various hits, including “The Gambler,” “Lady,” and the Dolly Parton duet “Islands in the Stream.”
