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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/27122748\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-27-at-14.27.17.jpg\")
\nKenny Rogers was one of the most legendary country music stars of all time. And his life outside his music was a bubbly one. Between the women, the children, and the drama, there’s a lot you probably didn’t know about the country crooner.
\nThe legend sadly passed away in March of 2020 at the age of 81, leaving behind his family and millions of fans who are mourning over his passing.
\nWhile everyone seems to think they know all about his private life – including his relationship with Dolly Parton – the retired music star had some things of his own to say about it.
\n[post_page_title]Kenny before it all[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny was actually Kenneth. It was variety show host Larry Kane that told Kenny to change his name from Kenneth – it was too official of a name. Larry made sure Kenny would indeed change his name as he announced that KENNY (not Kenneth) was coming out on stage to sing his song.
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![\"krr\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102520\/krr.jpg\")
\nOnce the public heard Kenny, he couldn’t take it back. Kenny was happy with the shift in his name once the girls in the crowd starting screaming it.
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\n[post_page_title]Pre-country hippie[\/post_page_title]
\nBelieve it or not, Kenny was first in a jazz trio and then in a psychodelic hippie pop band! We couldn’t image it either, don’t feel bad. Kenny got his ears pierced, and let his hair (everywhere) grow out. Kenny was the lead singer of the band, The First Edition.
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![\"Screen-Shot-2017-07-20-at-14.17.40\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102521\/Screen-Shot-2017-07-20-at-14.17.40.jpg\")
\nYou may not recognize the name of the band but we’re pretty sure you heard their music. Their song, Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) was in the hit 1968 film The Big Lebowski.
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\n[post_page_title]Fourth divorce[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny had been married a record five times. His fourth divorce from wife Marianne Gordon is one for the books, though. Not only was this divorce the messiest of all of his many divorces but it was the one that cost Kenny the most.
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![](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/20yEPE4.jpg\")
\nMarianne and Kenny were married for 16 years and share one son together. When the two decided to call it quits, Marianne ended up getting $60 million of the singer’s fortune.
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\n[post_page_title]Mad TV[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny owned his very own restaurant called Kenny Rogers Roasters back in the 90s and early 2000s. It was there that he got a shot of instant fame when Mad TV decided to make him the butt of their joke when they featured Kenny and his restaurant in their shows.
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![\"hqdefaultMO6h9\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102522\/hqdefaultMO6h9.jpg\")
\nAudiences loved the show and seeing “Kenny” on it (portrayed by Will Sasso), so it goes to show Mad TV – no one can mess with Kenny!
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\n[post_page_title]1-800-OOPS[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny was a bold man. He proved that when he decided it would be a good idea to set up a 1-800 number so that women could call him to have intimate relations via the phone.
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![\"kenny-rogers-six-pack-1\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102523\/kenny-rogers-six-pack-1.jpg\")
\nThese days, we all couldn’t care less, but back in the 80s and 90s, this was down right scandalous. Kenny didn’t think it was such a big deal and that he was entirely innocent in the matter since he was hiding nothing, but back then the scandal almost cost Kenny his entire career.
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\n[post_page_title]Listening to momma[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny asked his mom once what he should do with his life. His mother, a very wise woman, told him that he should follow what makes him feel good. Just like the saying, doing something you love means you never feel like you’re working at all.
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![\"0b706a197beeae7f92a8cb927c689656\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102523\/0b706a197beeae7f92a8cb927c689656.jpg\")
\nKenny decided to listen to momma and go into what he loved most of all – music. Kenny also went on to say that through his love of his work he had been able to better balance the ups and downs of fame and fortune.
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\n[post_page_title]Broke[\/post_page_title]
\nYou would expect someone like the legendary Kenny Rogers to be rolling in the dough. Well, you would be wrong. Between the divorces and overspending, Kenny was almost broke much of the time.
\n
![\"Kenny-Rogers-Oprah-Where-Are-They-Now-Oxygen-620x375\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102524\/Kenny-Rogers-Oprah-Where-Are-They-Now-Oxygen-620x375.jpg\")
\nHe never learned how to handle his finances in a wise manner and would spend what he earned as quickly as he earned it. Kenny said that one of the best purchased that he ever made was a set of automatic sprinklers. Practical!
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\n[post_page_title]Wild wild Kenny[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny had his first intimate relationship with a woman when he was 19 years old. He managed to get his partner pregnant through that first time of his! The woman ended up giving birth to Kenny’s first child, a daughter.
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![\"Screen-Shot-2017-07-25-at-17.50.20\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102524\/Screen-Shot-2017-07-25-at-17.50.20.jpg\")
\nAlthough she was biologically his, Kenny doesn’t have a relationship with her because the mom went off and married someone else and had that man raise their daughter as his own. Kenny was always alright with her decision.
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\n[post_page_title]Wanda [\/post_page_title]
\nKenny married wife number five, Wanda Miller, on June 1, 1997. The two are still together and are as happy as can be. Kenny had said many times that he thinks Wanda was his true soul mate.
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![\"kenny.wanda3_\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102525\/kenny.wanda3_.jpg\")
\nThe interesting part of their relationship is that Kenny was two years older than his in laws! Wanda’s parents initially did not approve of their union due to his age, but they were soon won over by his charismatic personality.
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\n[post_page_title]The opposite of his dad[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny’s father was a World War II veteran who returned from the war to find unemployment and emptiness in his life. He eventually turned to the bottle for comfort which led to a very tense home life for Kenny.
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![\"0160878a9dec0e60fb6a75f69a3ef930-beer-song-musica-popular\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102525\/0160878a9dec0e60fb6a75f69a3ef930-beer-song-musica-popular.jpg\")
\nIt was his father’s behavior that lead Kenny to be even more ambitious than he thought he could be. He didn’t want to be like his father and sit around all day feeling sorry for himself for being poor.
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\n[post_page_title]Cancer diagnosis[\/post_page_title]
\nWhen Kenny was younger he loved being out in the sun. When he was older, that time in the sun resulted in a skin cancer diagnosis. Everything was taken care of once it was detected but it had Kenny out of the sun thereafter.
\n
![\"kenny-rogers-sex-scandal-retirement-2-1024x582\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102526\/kenny-rogers-sex-scandal-retirement-2-1024x582.jpg\")
\nKenny also spoke about his condition during National Skin Cancer Month. He also said that he was scared to miss out on the chance to be with his family and loved ones. His fear of not having enough time with them is what eventually led him to quit the music business.
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\n[post_page_title]Dottie West[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny and Dottie were a duet match made in heaven. The country crooners were made for singing together. The two made hit after hit, such as Every Time Two Fools Collide, What Are We Doin’ in Love, and All I Ever Needed Is You.
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![\"R-1624260-1410107373-8274.jpeg1_\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102528\/R-1624260-1410107373-8274.jpeg1_.jpg\")
\nWhen Dottie was on her deathbed, Kenny would come and sing and talk to her to try and get her on the better side of things. Sadly, doctors said that Dottie was past the point of no return.
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\n[post_page_title]Almost professional[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny loved the game of tennis almost as much as he loved music. It was said that he would play for eight hours a day several times a week (when did he have the time?).
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![\"f20a70e3c20cac55cf1632a4a9f7a462--tennis-match-sport-tennis\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102529\/f20a70e3c20cac55cf1632a4a9f7a462--tennis-match-sport-tennis.jpg\")
\nHe was so good that he ranked nationally in the United States Tennis Association. When he would go on tour, he would still find the time to get his tennis time in.
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\n[post_page_title]Reno 911[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny made an appearance on the iconic show Reno 911 back in 2004. On the episode, Kenny was in Reno for a book signing and used the show for its security detail.
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![\"hqdefaulta4dqm\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102530\/hqdefaulta4dqm.jpg\")
\nOnce fans of his heard that he was in town and on the show, they raced over to Kenny’s private detail and got themselves into a whole heap of trouble. It was indeed a very funny episode.
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\n[post_page_title]Geico[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny made us all laugh when he decided to take on a Geico commercial, you know, the one with the little lizard. In the commercial, Kenny was playing poker with some other people when he begins to sing one of his many hit songs, The Gambler.
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![\"geico-kenny-rogers-did-you-know-large-9bTOi2\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102531\/geico-kenny-rogers-did-you-know-large-9bTOi2.jpg\")
\nThe other three people at the table just look on in wonder as Kenny continues to sing. We have to admit, it was one of the best Geico commercials to date.
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\n[post_page_title]Album request[\/post_page_title]
\nWhen Kenny wanted to come out with a greatest love hits back in the 90s, he didn’t want to decide for himself which songs were to be on the album, he wanted his fans to choose it for him since it was for them anyway.
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![\"thumb\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102531\/thumb.jpg\")
\nHe asked his fans who were watching QVC, where the record would be on sale on, to vote as to which songs would go on the record. His fans did just that and the record was produced.
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\n[post_page_title]Memoir[\/post_page_title]
\nObviously Kenny would have a memoir, his fans want to know it all! It was in 2012 that Kenny finally came out with his memoir, Luck or Something Like It: A Memoir.
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![\"0062071610\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102533\/0062071610.jpg\")
\nIn his memoir, Kenny talks about the many years he had been in the music industry and the many events and trials he had been through. The memoir goes back to his jazz beginnings and all the way through to today’s country music legend status.
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\n[post_page_title]Prestigious award[\/post_page_title]
\nThere\u2019s no doubting Kenny Rogers sold a serious amount of records in his time; so many, in fact, that he became the eighth most profitable musician of all time (according to the RIAA).
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![\"51mcEpN8kLL\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102533\/51mcEpN8kLL.jpg\")
\nKenny was no stranger to Gold records, with over 30 of his albums earning that status. He also earned 19 Platinum records and one Diamond. To get a Diamond record is no easy feat – over 10 million copies need to be sold to earn the title. His Greatest Hits Album was the winner of this prestigious award, as it sold over 24 million copies worldwide.
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\n[post_page_title]We Are The World[\/post_page_title]
\nAnyone who grew up in the 1980s will remember the African famine news, which dominated the headlines in that time. A huge drought meant countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia, and dozens of others were left hungry.
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![\"header_110923\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102534\/header_110923.jpg\")
\nMillions of people were unable to eat, with thousands not making it through these tough times. During this time, some of the biggest musicians of all time decided to record a song in order to raise much-needed funds. The song, called We Are The World, raised $60 million and featured the one and only Kenny Rogers.
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\n[post_page_title]Six Pack movie[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny Rogers wasn\u2019t just renowned for his incredible musical talents. He also had his own movie! Six Pack was a film based on a group of orphans who strip down Kenny\u2019s racing car. In order to get all of the parts back, Kenny had to race his stripped down vehicle and win his car back.
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![\"51MRA2XFGQL\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102535\/51MRA2XFGQL.jpg\")
\nWhile it wasn\u2019t a huge hit, it did end up making around $20 million in the US Box Office; more than most musicians\u2019 debut movies.
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\n[post_page_title]Entering the Hall of Fame[\/post_page_title]
\nOne thing that every musician aims for is recognition in the Hall of Fame. Kenny Rogers finally earned his spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame 2013, nearly 50-years after he first started making music.
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![\"country-music-hall-fame\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102535\/country-music-hall-fame.jpg\")
\nThere was no denying that Kenny had played a big part in making country music more mainstream and inspired so many artists to pursue their musical journey in this genre. Big-name country singer Garth Brooks had often said he credits Kenny with inspiring him and teaching him how to be a showman when he first started out.
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\n[post_page_title]The Kenny Rogers car[\/post_page_title]
\nBack in the 1980s and 1990s, Kenny Rogers was not just known as a music star; he was also a racing team! The star put his name to a sprint car racing team who ended up being pretty successful, winning the World of Outlaws Race and Knoxville Nationals.
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![\"1982GamberHouseCar18DSmith\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102536\/1982GamberHouseCar18DSmith.jpg\")
\nThe Kenny Rogers team was headed up by C.K. Spurlock from Hendersonville in Tennessee and truly lived up to their legendary name. The cars themselves were called \u201cThe Gambler\u201d in honor of Kenny\u2019s hit song of the same name.
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\n[post_page_title]The Best of the Real West[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny Rogers had always been a self-confessed history nerd, so jumped at the chance to be involved with a show aired on The History Channel. The Real West ran from 1991 until 1994, originally for A&E and then being shown on The History Channel after.
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![\"70213032\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102536\/70213032.jpg\")
\nThe show focuses on the history of the old, wild west and looks at some of the significant events that shaped Western American history. There are still re-runs on The History Channel if you need to get your Wild West fix.
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\n[post_page_title]Even more books[\/post_page_title]
\nWhile Kenny could have just stopped with a memoir, he was keen to get more books on the shelves and into the homes of people around the world. He released a collection of coffee table books that showed off his artistic side, including This is My Country and Your Friends and Mine.
\n
![\"515a5Ic8hYL._SY418_BO1%2C204%2C203%2C200_\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102537\/515a5Ic8hYL._SY418_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg\")
\nThe two mentioned featured rather impressive images of celebrities such as Willie Nelson, Michael Jackson, and Tammy Wynette, to name a few.
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\n[post_page_title]Exclusively at Cracker Barrel[\/post_page_title]
\nIf you ever fancy a nostalgia trip or need somewhere to stop on a long road trip, Cracker Barrel is the place to be. Not only do they have a huge collection of country memorabilia, but they\u2019re also the only place to sell The Love of God.
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![\"KennyRogersCD\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102538\/KennyRogersCD.jpg\")
\nThis album, by Kenny Rogers, is filled with songs that were big when Kenny was growing up, along with a number of big gospel hits. Even more of a reason to visit Cracker Barrel now!
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\n[post_page_title]More cameos[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny Rogers also features on an episode of Seinfeld, along with his world-famous chicken franchise. In this episode, a bright red light shines from the restaurant which drives Seinfeld and Kramer crazy.
\n
![\"2ae86879cd6c0a55a7657fa5b2b0e281--chicken-roaster-seinfeld-e1500541022302\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102538\/2ae86879cd6c0a55a7657fa5b2b0e281--chicken-roaster-seinfeld-e1500541022302.jpg\")
\nThey fight to get the restaurant moved, before actually going in and seeing what all the fuss about the chicken is about. They fall in love with the food right before the restaurant gets moved, leading to them actually being sad that it\u2019s gone. Typical.
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\n[post_page_title]Retiring[\/post_page_title]
\nIn news that broke the hearts of Kenny Rogers fans everywhere, the country star announced that he was going to retire once the 2017 concert season was over. At the time, Kenny was nearly 79-years old and said that he could no longer take his incredible music on tours around the world.
\n
![\"38D7BD5A00000578-3809898-image-a-1_1474985811627-e1500541072564\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102539\/38D7BD5A00000578-3809898-image-a-1_1474985811627-e1500541072564.jpg\")
\nAfter nearly 60-years of touring and performing, we can forgive Kenny for needing a break from the hectic country music scene.
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\n[post_page_title]Getting jazzy[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny Rogers wasn\u2019t always a big country music star. In fact, he was into a completely different genre before that – jazz! Kenny played bass for a band named the Bobby Doyle Trio, but unfortunately, they didn\u2019t do so well.
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![\"kenny-rogers8pYiD\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102539\/kenny-rogers8pYiD.jpg\")
\nAs they were making no money and barely getting any bookings, they finally decided to call it a day in 1965. And it\u2019s lucky they did. Otherwise, Kenny may not have been one of the biggest country stars in the world today!
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\n[post_page_title]Designing houses[\/post_page_title]
\nBelieve it or not, Kenny Rogers had a rather compelling passion. Interior design! He\u2019s adamant he had a real eye for designing houses, having put his stamp on over 20 properties so far. He also had his own interior design studio with Jim Weinberg, who Kenny had been friends with for quite some time.
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![\"Gracious-and-Cozy-Kitchen-Interior-Design-of-Kenny-Rogers-Italian-Style-Mansion-in-Atlantatr69A\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102540\/Gracious-and-Cozy-Kitchen-Interior-Design-of-Kenny-Rogers-Italian-Style-Mansion-in-Atlantatr69A.jpg\")
\nKenji Design Studio, as his business is named, had tackled some huge properties; including the Atlanta chain of the US President\u2019s hotels.
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\n[post_page_title]Roasters[\/post_page_title]
\nThe chicken chain featured in the Seinfeld episode mentioned earlier is real! Kenny Rogers Roasters is a fried chicken shop that the musician set up to take on giants such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and Boston Market.
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![\"147564601312591-1180361942-3yGxv3\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102541\/147564601312591-1180361942-3yGxv3.jpg\")
\nKenny wanted his chicken to have much less salt than the other big names, but unfortunately, it didn\u2019t go so well. The American stores have all since closed up, but there are still some left in Malaysia and the Philippines.
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\n[post_page_title]Men who look like Kenny Rogers[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny Rogers was once asked what his favorite website on the internet was and you\u2019ll never believe his answer. It\u2019s a parody site, about him! MenWhoLookLikeKennyRogers.com asks people to send in pictures of people they think look like the country superstar.
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![\"Screen-Shot-2017-07-20-at-11.42.12\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102542\/Screen-Shot-2017-07-20-at-11.42.12.jpg\")
\nKenny was happy to give his seal of approval for the site, as long as it was kept in good taste. Admit it, you\u2019re now going to spend all day on it, aren\u2019t you?
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\n[post_page_title]A potential fling[\/post_page_title]
\nEveryone knows how close Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were, having recorded several chart topping hits together. Who can forget classics such as You Can\u2019t Make Old Friends, Islands in the Stream, and their Christmas special?!
\n
![\"kenny-rogers-4-dolly-parton\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102543\/kenny-rogers-4-dolly-parton.jpg\")
\nMany people believed that the two had a fling, particularly as they were so close. Kenny Rogers had had five wives over the years, so if they had been seeing each other, it would likely have been a secret affair.
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\n[post_page_title]Great sportsmanship[\/post_page_title]
\nDoes anyone remember the awesome Kenny Rogers Classic? This event saw big stars in movie, TV, and sport pitted against each other in order to raise money for charity. During the years we\u2019ve seen John McEnroe trying his hand at basketball, Michael Jordan giving tennis a go, and even Woody Harrelson playing golf.
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![](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102544\/a-brief-history-of-the-time-kenny-rogers-pump-faked-michael-jordan-out-of-the-gym-body-image-1405715716.jpg\")
\nThis big weekend was extremely popular, with all the money raised going to the homeless in Athens, Georgia.
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\n[post_page_title]Getting the surgery[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny Rogers had admitted he didn\u2019t like the eyelid plastic surgery he got, but he\u2019s also given a pretty simple reason as to why he got it. Nope, it wasn\u2019t for medical reasons or anything.
\n
![\"kenny-rogers-1024x917\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102546\/kenny-rogers-1024x917.jpg\")
\nTurns out, Kenny Rogers wanted to get eyelid plastic surgery so that he \u201cdidn\u2019t look like an old man with a super young wife.\u201d Well, that settles it then! Just a shame he didn\u2019t like the end result.
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\n[post_page_title]Stone cold sober[\/post_page_title]
\nMany musicians and bands were known for taking illegal substances before going on stage in the 1960s and 1970s, but not Kenny! He admitted that he did once take something before he went on stage one time and thought he sounded fantastic.
\n
![\"b4s_kenny012317_18681269_8col\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102547\/b4s_kenny012317_18681269_8col.jpg\")
\nHowever, he soon found out that his vocals were completely off and he vowed never to do it again. Proving he\u2019s in it solely for the music, Kenny Rogers will only perform sober.
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\n[post_page_title]Gallagher, the philosopher[\/post_page_title]
\nGallagher was an extremely popular comedian, known for his utterly bizarre take on life, use of props, and his penchant for smashing fruit up. While many of us take this comedian with a pinch of salt, Kenny Rogers believes he\u2019s much more than that.
\n
![\"960\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102547\/960.jpg\")
\nHe\u2019s said that Gallagher is one of the most introspective and thought-provoking people he\u2019s ever met; a philosopher of sorts. Kenny even still imagines what life would be like if chairs were designed for legs that bend in the wrong way.
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\n[post_page_title]No free meal for you![\/post_page_title]
\nApparently, the pictures posted of Kenny Rogers at the Kenny Rogers Roasters don\u2019t look much like Kenny Rogers. During a vacation to Greece, Rogers decided that he wanted to stop by one of his franchise restaurants for a quick bite.
\n
![\"merchantimage907\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102549\/merchantimage907.png\")
\nWhile the singer thought that he could have a free dinner at his own restaurant, he was mistaken. Unfortunately for him, the restaurant’s manager looked at the real Kenny Rogers and did not believe that he was actually the man in the photos. Rogers eventually had to pay for his dinner.
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\n[post_page_title]Autobiography[\/post_page_title]
\nAs it turned out, Rogers almost prevented his autobiography from being published at the last minute. The famous singer thought that the book, which was titled Luck or Something Like It, would make him look bad because it was only about his scandalous behavior.
\n
![\"r0_171_4535_2721_w1200_h678_fmax\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102550\/r0_171_4535_2721_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg\")
\nThe publishers calmed Rogers down and promised him that they were really interested in his \u2018rags to riches\u2019 story of becoming a highly successful country singer. It was only then that Rogers allowed them to print it.
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\n[post_page_title]Being nice[\/post_page_title]
\nOne of the main reasons why Kenny Rogers was so successful is because he was known as one of the nicest people in the entertainment business. Rogers said that he received a piece of advice a long time ago, that if you\u2019ll hurt someone on your way up, they will find a way to bring you down.
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![\"kenny_rollin_bus\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102553\/kenny_rollin_bus.png\")
\nHe also said that he felt that many people genuinely liked him, and would aid him whenever he was in trouble.
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\n[post_page_title]A thin line[\/post_page_title]
\nMany people say that one of the basic fundamentals behind the persona of Kenny Rogers was the notion that there was little difference between being selfish and highly motivated.
\n
![\"kenny-rogers-1\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102553\/kenny-rogers-1.jpg\")
\nRogers himself admitted that he sacrificed a great deal of things in his life, including his wives and good friends, because of his endless drive for performing. However, Rogers pointed out that when he was married for the fifth time, he realized that maybe he was wrong.
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\n[post_page_title]Home Improvement[\/post_page_title]
\nHome Improvement was one of the biggest shows of the 90s. Kenny recorded a special song for the series finale of the show.
\n
![\"cold-openoQJVm\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102532\/cold-openoQJVm.jpg\")
\nIf you look for it now, you are sure to not find it since no one had been able to uncover it since the show’s end. Home Improvement was based on two men who ran a home improvement show out of their homes, with their families and faceless neighbor as well.
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\n[post_page_title]Dolly Parton[\/post_page_title]
\nAfter a mutual decision to put an end to the never ending rumors, Dolly and Kenny decided to do a joint interview on Good Morning America in 2013. During the conversation, Parton repeatedly denied having any affair with Rogers, saying that she never had any feelings for him and that she still loves her husband after more than 50 years of marriage.
\n
![\"abc_gma_dolly_130927_wg\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/28102554\/abc_gma_dolly_130927_wg.jpg\")
\nKenny, on the other hand, claimed that he never thought about any relationship with Dolly.
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\n[post_page_title]Behind the camera[\/post_page_title]
\nWhenever somebody becomes incredibly famous for one thing, it\u2019s a nice surprise to find out what sort of lesser-known passions and hobbies they have. For Kenny Rogers, that hobby was photography.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143913\/mri5yQW.jpg\")
\nRogers loves the art of photography, finding immense joy in discovering interesting things to shoot – and relishes the ability to spot a moment, and capture its spirit and feeling in the form of a photograph. Rogers had even released 2 books of photography, titled \u2018Your Friends and Mine\u2019, and \u2018Kenny Rogers\u2019 America\u2019.
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\n[post_page_title]A staunch companion[\/post_page_title]
\nOne thing the rich and famous are well-known for was a tendency to keep exotic pets. Given the wealth and extravagance of their lives, many celebrities feel drawn to animal companions more outside-the-box than your average cat or dog.
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143915\/QR5k4Kn.jpg\")
\nKenny Rogers was no exception to this rule, having a pet that presumably causes frequent double-takes among guests to his home – namely, a goat. While an unconventional choice, the goat – named Smitty – had been said by Rogers to be an excellent companion, and a soothing presence in his life.
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\n[post_page_title]The lone star state[\/post_page_title]
\nKenny Rogers was a Texas native, having been born in Houston on August 21, 1938. His parents were Edward Rogers – who was a carpenter – and Lucille Lois – who was a nurse\u2019s assistant. Now, if you think you have a big family Rogers might have you beat, being the fourth of 8 children!
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143917\/kLwVPZm.jpg\")
\nIt\u2019s no wonder that Kenny decided to pursue a life in performance, as he must have been battling 7 other siblings for attention for most of his childhood.
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\n[post_page_title]The early days[\/post_page_title]
\nThe career that Rogers had led was vast and storied, having seen the rise and fall of numerous movements and stars over a career that lasted 6 decades. All the way back in 1957 Rogers was making waves, with his first minor hit – a song called \u2018That Crazy Feeling\u2019.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143919\/pSMbtpV.jpg\")
\nThe song was released so early into Rogers\u2019 career that he was still going by the name Kenneth! Although it was not a nationwide hit, the song proved very popular in his hometown of Houston.
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\n[post_page_title]Putting in the work[\/post_page_title]
\nFar from making it easy instantly, Kenny Rogers had to put in years of work to reach the level of success that he did. During his early career he was working several jobs in the industry while trying to make it as a singer – working as a writer, session musician, and producer for other artists.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143920\/XN8ciXq.jpg\")
\nIt was during this time that Rogers got to work with some of the most famous country singers of all time, including Mickey Gilley and the legend Eddy Arnold.
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\n[post_page_title]A solo career[\/post_page_title]
\nAfter performing with The First Edition for nine years, Kenny finally re-embarked on his solo career – almost 20 years after he first released \u2018That Crazy Feeling\u2019. Rogers first album as a solo artist was called \u2018Love Lifted Me\u2019 and was released in 1976.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143921\/A1RjsFh.jpg\")
\nThe album was a moderate success, breaking into the top 40 of the country charts. It was his next album, simply titled \u2018Kenny Rogers\u2019, that would catapult him into solo success, reaching the top of the country charts.
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\n[post_page_title]Worldwide hit[\/post_page_title]
\nThe reason for the success of Rogers\u2019 second album was down to its second single, a country song called \u2018Lucille\u2019. The song tells the story of a man who meets a woman in a bar, and witnesses her dissatisfaction with the life she leads.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143923\/4WEyLgK.jpg\")
\n\u2018Lucille\u2019 was a huge hit, reaching number 1 on the country charts and breaking into the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. It also hit the top ten in twelve other countries, and brought Kenny Rogers\u2019 name to a worldwide audience.
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\n[post_page_title]Making it big[\/post_page_title]
\nRogers would go on to have several more successful albums, but it was in 1978, with the release of his sixth album, that he would find himself with a runaway hit on his hands. The album – called \u2018The Gambler – was unbelievably successful, selling over 35 million copies worldwide.
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143925\/NVXG8r0.jpg\")
\nIt made Rogers a well-known name across the world, and transformed him from a successful artists to one of the biggest names in music. The album produced 2 hit singles – \u2018The Gambler\u2019 and \u2018She Believes in Me\u2019 – which further bolstered its success.
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\n[post_page_title]Working with legends[\/post_page_title]
\nIn 1983, Kenny Rogers released \u2018Eyes That See in the Dark\u2019, an album that he made with the help of Barry Gibb, one of the Bee Gees. Initially Rogers was only hoping for Gibb to help with one or two tracks, but Barry was intent on working on the whole album together.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143926\/4XCJXZj.jpg\")
\nThe most well-known result of this collaboration was the single \u2018Islands in the Stream\u2019 – a duet with Dolly Parton that was a massive hit, and remains one of the most popular songs of both artists.
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\n[post_page_title]Held back[\/post_page_title]
\nAlthough \u2018Eyes That See in the Dark\u2019 was a very successful album in the United States, it didn\u2019t fare quite so well in the United Kingdom, not even cracking the top 40 of the album charts there.
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143927\/ALF6YOL.jpg\")
\nIn large part, this is because the record label were intent on having the album\u2019s title track be released as the lead single across the Atlantic – as such the album generated much less momentum than it would have had \u2018Islands in the Stream\u2019 been the lead single.
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\n[post_page_title]Headliner [\/post_page_title]
\nOne of the most lucrative opportunities for a musical entertainer was a residency headlining at a venue for a few years. As an immensely successful artist, Rogers was able to use his wealth to put on a residency for himself – buying the Grand Palace Theatre in Branson, Missouri, and headlining it from 1992-1995.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143929\/nwyTkG4.jpg\")
\nAt a seating capacity of 4000, the Grand Palace is as large as some of Vegas\u2019 most popular venues – making Rogers\u2019 ability to simply buy and headline it even more impressive.
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\n[post_page_title]Setting records[\/post_page_title]
\nIn 2000, Rogers\u2019 released \u2018Buy me a Rose\u2019, about a man who tries to win his wife\u2019s affection with lavish gifts, before realizing that she prefers simpler, more honest declarations of love. The song reached number one on the country charts, becoming Rogers\u2019 first number one in 10 years.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143931\/Db4lLE2.jpg\")
\nIn doing this, Rogers set the record for the oldest person to have a number one on the chart (at 62), a record he held for 3 years until Willie Nelson hit number one at the age of 70.
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\n[post_page_title]An unbelievable career[\/post_page_title]
\nThere are not a lot of people with careers as extensive and successful as Kenny Rogers. He\u2019s come a long way from those first minor hits back in 1957 – working to become one of the most successful musical artists of all time.
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143933\/20c7qhR.jpg\")
\nRogers had spanned several different genres and released albums with startling regularity until his retirement – putting out an incredible 65 albums and selling a mind-blowing 165 million records. If we\u2019d managed such a feat, we\u2019d be patting ourselves on the back right about now.
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\n[post_page_title]A sporting chance[\/post_page_title]
\nIn 2007, Rogers won appreciate from the strangest of sources, when the England rugby team made \u2018The Gambler\u2019 their unofficial anthem while competing in the Rugby World Cup. The team encountered the song after hearing one of their members playing it – becoming enamored with the tune and choosing it as their anthem.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143934\/i0uYc9H.jpg\")
\nRogers was touched by the support of the team, sending them messages thanking them and cheering them on through the competition. How can you lose with Kenny behind you?
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\n[post_page_title]Special broadcast[\/post_page_title]
\nMany a singer and entertainer had done a TV special or two in their time, and Kenny Rogers was no different. In 2010 the singer recorded a show called \u2018Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years\u2019 – a special designed to honor the impact of Rogers on the music industry, and his work to make country music popular with a mainstream audience.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143936\/KilSBKi.jpg\")
\nAs might be expected the show had some very special guests, with both Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton appearing to perform with the titan of country.
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\n[post_page_title]Sticking with a good thing[\/post_page_title]
\nA lot of musicians will have a backing band that they like, but few are as dedicated as Kenny Rogers. While most singers aren\u2019t too invested, and are willing to rotate or change their backing band according to what\u2019s available, Kenny performed with the same backing band – a group called Bloodline – from 1976 until the end of his career.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143938\/QNutMmu.jpg\")
\nRogers\u2019 motivation for sticking with Bloodline actually makes a lot of sense – he claims that he stuck with them all those years because they knew his songs already – which makes sense!
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\n[post_page_title]Showered with accolades[\/post_page_title]
\nAs might be expected from somebody with a career as long and successful as Rogers\u2019 is, he\u2019s been showered with awards over the decades. Rogers had won 3 Grammys, 5 Country Music Association awards, an incredible 11 Academy of Country Music awards, and many more!
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143940\/ehPCCj6.jpg\")
\nAs well as being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rogers had the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon him by the Country Music Association, and had also been inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame,
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\n[post_page_title]On the small screen[\/post_page_title]
\nAs well as being one of the highest-selling albums of all time, Rogers\u2019 \u2018The Gambler\u2019 also found itself being made into a series of TV movies, starring Rogers as Brady Hawkes – a gambler in the old west.
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![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143941\/CSOtJhF.jpg\")
\nThe first \u2018Gambler\u2019 movie, \u2018Kenny Rogers as The Gambler\u2019, aired on April 8, 1980 and was a big success – doing well enough to garner 3 sequels. After the last film in the series aired in 1994, there were 3 books published in 1996 and 1998.
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\n[post_page_title]Winning big[\/post_page_title]
\nNever content to rest in just one medium – or even three – Rogers found his gambler persona finding new life on slot machines – which is about as apt as you can possible get to be honest.
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143943\/t2kIyex.jpg\")
\nThe machines populate Vegas Casinos, which means that if you want to sink a couple of coins into a machine while looking into the friendly face of Kenny Rogers, you can! For a truly immersive experience you could even listen to \u2018The Gambler\u2019 while you played.
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\n[post_page_title]A family man[\/post_page_title]
\nNever one to take the easy route, Kenny Rogers embarked upon one of the most taxing things possible while at the age of 66 – being a father. Already having 3 children, Rogers had twins in 2004 with his current wife Wanda Miller.
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17143945\/IkmfWi9.jpg\")
\nDespite the difficulties that come with having children at a somewhat more advanced age – Rogers had testified to being worn out by the sheer energy his twin sons have – Kenny was immensely happy at the birth of his sons, and had found raising them to be incredibly fulfilling.
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\n[post_page_title]Passed away[\/post_page_title]
\nUnfortunately, in March of 2020 the legendary singer passed away at the age of 81. The tragic passing affected both his family, his friends, and his million of fans all around the world.
\n
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/22090318\/Screen-Shot-2020-03-22-at-11.01.08.jpg\")
\nWhile he’s no longer with us, his musical legacy will forever live on, and we will never forget Kenny Rogers for his wonderful music, good deeds, and lovely personality.<\/p>\n
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Kenny Rogers was one of the most legendary country music stars of all time. And his life outside his music was a bubbly one. Between the women, the children, and the drama, there’s a lot you probably didn’t know about the country crooner. The legend sadly passed away in March of 2020 at the age […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":27122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,41,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrities","category-entertainment","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n