American country music legend Kenny Rogers has died aged 81.
His family released the following statement via the singer’s Twitter page to confirm the news on March 21, hours after he passed away on the evening of March 20.
The statement said: “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25 PM 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 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.”
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The Grammy award winning icon is best known for his duet with Dolly Parton, Islands in the stream, and his big hit, The Gambler.
His impressive career spanned 60 years and seven decades as he gained millions of fans around the world for his songs and live performances.
Due to the current coronavirus outbreak in the United States, the family will only be holding a private service to remember Kenny at this time. However, they added that “they look forward to celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and family at a later date.”