Country music icon Kenny Rogers dies at 81

Kenny Rogers, an American Country music icon, has died aged 81 years.

A statement released on Saturday morning said he died from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by family members.

“The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81,” the statement reads.

Kenny Rogers was renowned for hits like ‘The Gambler,’ ‘Lady’, ‘Islands In The Stream’, ‘Lucille’, ‘She Believes In Me’, and ‘Through the Years’.

He 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.

The family said they are planning a small private service at this time out of concern for the coronavirus pandemic.

“(We) look forward to celebrating Kenny’s life publicly with his friends and fans at a later date,” the statement reads.