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Kenny Rogers, the beloved country music icon, has died at the age of 81. According to his family, his cause of death was “natural causes” and he passed away surrounded by people who love him. He leaves behind a loving family, including his wife Wanda Miller Rogers. Read on to learn more about his beloved wife Wanda.
Kenny Rogers was well known for a number of amazing classic country songs, including The Gambler, Lady, She Believes in Me, and Through the Years. He was married five times and had five children who will miss him dearly. His family shared on March 21: “The Rogers family is sad to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away last night at 10:25PM at the age of 81. Rogers passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.”
1. Kenny Rogers & Wanda Miller Were Married in 1997
In 1997, Kenny Rogers married Wanda Miller. They have been together ever since. In August 2019, Miller posted about her love for Rogers on Instagram. “We love you Kenny… Another blessed year,” she wrote.
In June 2019, she shared a photo on Instagram of their wedding day. She wrote: “I Love these memories. Happy Anniversary KR.. 22 years and counting.”
They were very much in love.
2. Kenny & Wanda Rogers Have Twin Boys & He Once Said He Was a ‘Father First & a Singer Second’
Kenny and Wanda Rogers had twin boys in 2004, making Rogers the father of five, Country Rebel reported. In an interview with Independent, Rogers said that he didn’t want any more kids at first. But Miller had never had kids and when she turned 31, she really wanted children. He told Independent: “I did some soul-searching and realised it was unfair of me to take her childbearing years… So we went for it, and when I was told it was twins, man, I was thrilled.”
In 2016, he chose to stop touring so he could spend more time with them, CMT reported. He said: “I hope my fans understand that I’m a father first and a singer second… 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.”
Here’s a video of Rogers introducing his wife and twin sons at a concert in 2016.
3. He Was Married Four Times Before Marrying Wanda Miller
Kenny Rogers has been married five times. His first marriage was to Janice Gordon from 1958 to 1960. His second marriage was to Jean Rogers from October 1960 to 1963. His third marriage was to Margo Anderson from October 1964 to 1976. In 1977 he married Marianne Gordon and they were married until 1993. In 1997, he and Wanda Miller were happily married. They often shared sweet photos on Facebook celebrating their lives together.
4. Kenny & Wanda Met When She Was Hosting at a Restaurant He Visited
Kenny Rogers and Wanda Miller met in an unexpected way in Atlanta, Country Rebel reported. He was on a blind date, but he was smitten by her instead. He called the restaurant later and asked about Miller, who was 26 at the time. She returned his call after her coworkers convinced her they weren’t playing a joke on her. They married on June 1, 1997.
According to Country Fancast, Miller was born in Lowndes County and has a twin sister, Tonia. There’s a 28-year age difference between Rogers and Miller (her parents are just two years younger than Rogers.)
Over time, her parents realized the two were very much in love. Rogers told them when they first were skeptical of him: “I will make you a promise. I will never lie to her and I will never lie to you.” He said that he and her parents became best friends.
Miller told Valdosta Daily Times that Rogers is incredibly nice and she’s only seen him angry maybe four times.
5. Miller Said She Never Forgot Her Roots After She & Rogers Were Married
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In an interview with Valdosta Daily Times, Miller said she never forgot her roots after marrying Rogers. She attended her 30th reunion for Lowndes High School. She said that she and her twin boys still visited her parents in Lowndes County about 12 times a year and Rogers often comes with them.
In 2015 she said that she still joined Rogers on the road sometimes, but once their sons were born she couldn’t go quite as often. She told Valdosta Daily Times: “The first 12 years we were together, I went everywhere with him. Then when the kids came along, you have to prioritize.”
In 2017 in an Instagram post, Kenny Rogers said that one of the most rewarding things in his life was being a father.
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