Country Music Legend Kenny Rogers dies at 81

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

Rogers’ family plans a small private service due to the coronavirus outbreak, the statement said.

Rogers and county music icon Dolly Parton were frequent collaborators and paired to make some of country music's most enduring duets, including "Islands in the Stream," "Love is Strange," "Real Love,'' and "You Can't Make Old Friends."

Rogers announced in 2015 that after spending more than 50 years in the business, he planned to retire and told NBC’s “Today” then that he was saying goodbye.

“I've done this long enough,” he said, adding that he wanted to spend more time with his children.

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

He moved beyond music to became the star of TV movies based on “The Gambler” and other songs, making him a superstar in the ’70s and ’80s. Despite his crossover success, he always preferred to be thought of as a country singer, The Associated Press reported.