Vocalist

Kenny Rogers, who dominated the pop and country charts in the 1970s and 1980s

with a string of sleekly tailored hits and won three Grammys, has died. He was

81.

Rogers

“passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice

and surrounded by his family,” a representative for the singer said in a

statement. Due to the national COVID-19 emergency, the family is planning

a small private service at this time with a public memorial planned for a later

date.

Rogers had

announced a farewell tour in 2015 and was able to keep it going through

December 2017. In April 2018, shortly before he was to spend a few months

finishing out the tour after a break, he announced that he was having to call

off the remaining dates (including a planned appearance at the Stagecoach

Festival in California), due to unspecified “health challenges.”

“I didn’t want to take forever to retire,” Rogers said his April 2018 statement. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to say farewell to the fans over the course of the past two years on ‘The Gambler’s Last Deal’ tour. I could never properly thank them for the encouragement and support they’ve given me throughout my career and the happiness I’ve experienced as a result of that.”