In a statement released today, it was confirmed that the country music legend Kenny Rogers had died, aged 81.
It was confirmed that Kenny had sadly “passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family”.
The announcement read: “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.”
Rogers had a career that spanned more than six decades and enjoyed success in partnership with Dolly Parton, even announcing a farewell tour in 2015.
It had always been questioned by fans why the king and queen Country music never formed a relationship despite so many people wanting this to happen.
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers were the perfect duo but never anything more than friends (Image: Getty Images)
The pair became the perfect duet partners when they soared the charts with the hit Islands in the Stream in 1983.
In an unearthed interview with TODAY, the duo touched on why they didn’t ever become a real life couple.
Rogers said: “First of all, she’s hard to look at for me.”
To which Dolly, now 74, quipped: “I’m not his type.”.
The family of Kenny Roger’s released a statement to confirm that the Country hero had died (Image: Getty Images North America)
Their close bond and friendships created some of the most epic duets such as Islands in the Stream, Love is Strange, Real Love, and You Can’t Make Old Friends.
Continuing to joke about their relationship, Kenny said: “I’m a believer that tension is better if you keep it than if you satisfy it and then secondly, she said no to me.”
Dolly chimed in: “Nah. You know what, we were almost like brother and sister, and it would almost be like incest so we just never went there.
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton have shared a close bond for years (Image: Getty Images)
“We’re really good friends and we’re so much alike. We know the same people. We laugh at the same kind of jokes. I tell jokes and I tell him not to tell that I told the joke.”
The two Country heroes have shared a strong friendship for decades and both endured their own successful solo careers too.
Kenny’s death will no doubt be hard news to swallow for long time friend and duet partner Dolly Parton.
Parton had previously told the publication that her favourite duet with Kenny was always “You Can’t Make Old Friends”.
She added: “We love that because it’s so personal to both of us. But we love all Islands In The Stream.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
