Kenny Rogers, the iconic country music legend, lived a life filled with fame, wealth, and numerous relationships. Renowned for his rich, soulful voice and countless chart-topping songs, his personal life was just as intriguing.
Although Rogers married five times and had five children, it took years for him to find his true love, a bond that would endure until his passing at 81.
Over the course of his life, Rogers experienced five marriages. Despite the breakdown of his earlier unions, he always stated that he deeply loved each of his wives at the time. However, he admitted that his music often took precedence over his personal relationships. In reflecting on his past marriages, he confessed that his passion for music became like a “mistress,” something so all-consuming that it hindered his ability to fully dedicate himself to his family.
Rogers, in a 1979 portrait, captured in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Harry Langdon / Getty), shared, “My music always came first.” He openly acknowledged that although he loved his wives and children, his ambition for his career often drove a wedge between them. Taking full accountability for the failures of his marriages, Rogers cleared his former wives of any fault.
Rogers first entered marriage at the age of 19, tying the knot with Janice Gordon. Their marriage followed the birth of their daughter, and while they hoped to prove their love to her parents, their union came to an end just two years later. After the divorce, Rogers distanced himself from his daughter, allowing Gordon’s second husband to assume the role of father.
