Country Music Icon Kenny Rogers, Who Expanded American Country Music, Passes Away

Leading Change in US Pop Scene by Adding Pop, R&B to Country Music
Touring Worldwide for 60 Years... Also Launching Chicken Franchise

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] Kenny Rogers, the American country singer known for his warm voice and affectionate songs, passed away on the 20th (local time) at the age of 82. According to local media such as Variety, Rogers died of natural causes at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia. It is reported that he peacefully closed his eyes surrounded by his family.

Rogers was a country singer famous for songs such as "Lady," "Lucile," "The Gambler," and "Sweet Music Man." He led changes in the American pop scene by blending traditional country music with pop and R&B (rhythm and blues). On stage, he was loved for expressing various emotions with his bushy beard and deep voice.

One of his representative songs is "Lady," released in 1981. That year, it won all the major music awards in the United States. Rogers also became the highest-earning singer in the U.S. at that time. The song is also famous for being composed by Lionel Richie. It is praised for skillfully combining pop, country, and R&B, broadening Rogers' musical range. During his lifetime, Rogers said, "I wanted to make country music a popular genre rather than change it."

Rogers was born in 1938 in Houston, Texas, to a carpenter father and a nurse assistant mother. He gained fame in 1966 at the age of 28 by joining the folk group "The New Christy Minstrels." After the group disbanded, he began a solo career, and his 1977 release "Lucile" gained great popularity, establishing him as a star.

He was a frequent guest at award ceremonies. He collected over 100 trophies, including 18 American Music Awards and 3 Grammy Awards. His albums sold more than 165 million copies worldwide. In particular, his 2006 album "Water & Bridges" reached number 5 on the Billboard Country Songs chart, demonstrating Rogers' enduring presence.

He toured not only across the United States but also worldwide for 60 years. He was also interested in photography and published photo books such as "America the Beautiful" and "This Is My Country." Rogers was also known as a businessman. In 1990, he established a chicken franchise bearing his name and expanded overseas to countries including Malaysia.

He is survived by five children, including twin sons with his fifth wife, Wanda Miller. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the funeral will be held on a small scale.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.