Decorated Singer Kenny Rogers dies at 81
Published:Saturday | March 21, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Actor-singer Kenny Rogers, the smooth, Grammy-winning balladeer who spanned jazz, folk, country and pop has died.
He was 81.
Rogers had hits such as 'Lucille', 'Lady', 'You Decorated my life' and 'Islands in the Stream' and embraced his persona as 'The Gambler' on record and on TV.
He died at home on Friday night in Sandy Springs, Georgia, representative Keith Hagan told The Associated Press.
He said Rogers was under hospice care and died of natural causes.
The Houston-born performer with the husky voice and silver beard sold tens of millions of records, won three Grammys and was the star of TV movies based on 'The Gambler' and other songs, making him a superstar in the ’70s and ’80s.
Rogers thrived for some 60 years before he retired from touring in 2017 at age 79.
Despite his crossover success, he always preferred to be thought of as a country singer.
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