American country music legend who was highly famous in Sub-Saharan Africa Kenny Rogers has died, his family said on his social media profiles. He was 81.
Kenny Rogers, whose hits included “Lucille,” “Lady” and “The Gambler,” died late Friday at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
“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,” the family tweeted.
In a statement shared online, his publicist wrote: “In a career that spanned more than six decades, 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. Chart-topping hits like “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Islands In The Stream,” “Lucille,” “She Believes In Me,” and “Through the Years” are just a handful of Kenny Rogers’ songs that have inspired generations of artists and fans alike.
“Rogers, with twenty-four number-one hits, was a Country Music Hall of Fame member, six-time CMA Awards winner, three-time GRAMMY® Award winner, recipient of the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, CMT Artist of a Lifetime Award honoree in 2015 and has been voted the “Favorite Singer of All Time” in a joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People”.
Fellow country music star Leann Rimes paid tributes to Kenny Rogers, tweeting “We will miss you @_KennyRogers You are and forever will be quite the legend. #thegambler #ripkennyrogers“.
The Huffington Post wrote: “Houston-born Rogers, who was one of seven siblings, is survived by his wife, Wanda, sons Justin, Jordan, Chris and Kenny Jr., two brothers, a sister and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, his representative Keith Hagan told the Associated Press agency.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.