Country music icon Kenny Rogers dies aged 81

Kenny Rogers has died at the age of 81.

Rogers "passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family," a representative for the singer said in a statement.

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 GRAMMYR 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 Favourite Singer of All Time in a joint poll by readers of both USA Today and People.

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.

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