Although late country star Kenny Rogers was best known for his iconic singing and songwriting, nothing meant more to the “Islands in the Stream” singer than fatherhood. Prior to his March 2020 death, Kenny was the proud dad of five kids: Carole, Kenny Jr., Chris and twin sons Justin and Jordan.
The Grammy Award winner’s children shared the news of their father’s death at age 81 at the time. “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away,” the statement read. “Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.”
Throughout his life, Kenny took parenthood and life with his family seriously — especially with his fifth wife, Wanda Miller, and their younger boys. In an August 2016 interview with CMT News, the Country Music Hall of Famer explained why he decided to put a pause on touring at the time.
“I hope my fans understand that I’m a father first and a singer second,” he revealed. “As it turns out, I’m missing some very great parts of my boys’ lives. I know as well as anybody else how that time gets away from you. And I don’t want to miss it. I just worry about how much longer I’m going to be here, and I want to have time to spend with them. It’s pretty simple.”
Kenny expressed the same sentiment about his presence in his children’s lives when he opened up to The Tennessean in 2013. The Six Pack actor told the outlet because he felt he wasn’t there enough for his older children in a sense, he was doing everything he could to redeem himself with his twins.
“I think success requires that you be selfish sometimes, and I refuse to do that now,” he explained. “I’m determined to stay home with the boys, and it’s really a wonderful gift for me. So if I have no more success, I’m OK. But to have the opportunity to have success [is really special].”
We bet Kenny’s children are so proud of the legacy he left behind.
Scroll through the gallery below to learn all about the late country star’s five kids.
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