Kenny Rogers

Country music legend Kenny Rogers has passed away at the age of 81, his family said late Friday.

“Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family,” they said in a statement.

The family said they were planning a small private service “out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency.”

Rogers dominated the pop and country charts in the 1970s and 1980s with a string of sleekly tailored hits and won three Grammys.

He was known for a string of hits including The Gambler, Lucille and Islands In The Stream.

In 2018 Rogers scrapped the final dates of his farewell tour due to health concerns.

Born in Texas, Rogers started his career in the late 1950s and quickly became active in rockabilly, jazz and other genres that he brought into his country style.

Rogers had 24 number-one hits over his career and is a six-time County Music Association winner. He had Grammy awards and was nominated 19 times.