- This award-winning singer experienced four failed marriages before meeting his last wife.
- Even though he already had three children, he was thrilled to make his wife’s dream come true when she asked for offspring of their own.
- They proudly welcomed twins but sadly the musician didn’t live long enough to see them turn into adults.
The late singer at an event, presented by American Friends of the Hebrew University, in Los Angeles, California, on November 14, 1978 | Source: Getty Images
This late musician lived an intriguing life webbed in fame and fortune. While he was loved by many, it took several years for him to find his one true love that lasted throughout the rest of his lifetime.
The singer was married more than once, and he fathered five children before his death at age 81. Although his previous marriages ended in divorce, he claimed to have been deeply in love with his wives at the time of the union.
The musician at the Canadian National Exhibition Grandstand singing the songs he loves on August 22, 1985 | Source: Getty Images
The star never doubted his love for his previous partners, but there was a compelling desire that suppressed the passion for remaining committed during his marriages. While speaking about his failed unions, he revealed that music was his mistress, a powerful one!
Neither his love for his wives nor his kids made him feel the need to save his family. Instead, he disconnected from them and obsessed over his career while feeding a burning desire to make music.
The late star performing in a photo taken by The Denver Post on February 1985 | Source: Getty Images
He confessed to his errors and exonerated his previous lovers of any blame in the failed marriages. According to the country crooner, his mistress—music, had the upper hand.
While he was an absentee husband, he was a charming partner, and one of his former spouses once publicly declared that he was an impressive person to be with, despite their fallout.
A portrait of the singer and his fifth wife prior to his concert tour around the country after arriving in Britain, on November 7, 1977 | Source: Getty Images
The late star became a married man at age 19 when he tied the knot with his first wife. After their first intimacy, the pair welcomed a daughter, which then led to their union. At the time, the woman’s parents blamed the singer for ruining their daughter’s life, but he was hell-bent on proving them wrong!
Sadly things did not go as planned, and two years after their marriage, they went their separate ways. The musician promised to keep his distance from both mother and child, vowing that he would let his first wife’s second husband become the child’s father while he retained the title.
The music star and his fifth wife at an event in circa 1983 | Source: Getty Images
Without wasting time the country music singer met someone who became his second wife. They exchanged vows the same year he ended his first marriage. However, the young couple soon became bored of each other and decided to call it quits three years later.
The “Coward of the County” star waited for a year before walking down the altar for wedding nuptials with his third wife! This time, the marriage lasted for more than a decade, and he became a second-time dad after the birth of Kenny Jr., his first son.
He admitted that his third wife was an incredible woman and they created happy memories for the first nine years of their marriage before things got ugly due to his continuous traveling.
The American country musician performing onstage in Uniondale, New York, on September 26, 1980 | Source: Getty Images
By 1977, the celebrity married his fourth wife who was an actress. Five years later, they welcomed a son named Chris. The talented duo remained husband and wife for nearly two decades before deciding to head to the divorce court.
The actress revealed that their relationship was great from the start; he was smitten by her and made her the center of his world. But when he turned 50, the singer believed he had paid less attention to his career. He craved more, and that wedged a hole in their marriage.
The American singer poses for a portrait in 1979 | Source: Getty Images
The former couple’s 1993 divorce was captured as one of the most expensive in the industry, as the actress got a $60 million settlement. Yet, surprisingly, after the verdict, her ex-husband maintained that “she deserves every penny.”
He explained that his statement was because when she met him he was a member of a famous country band known as the “First Edition.” When the group broke up, the country star owed a debt of $60,000.
The late singer and his band The First Edition appeared on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on September 29, 1967 | Source: Getty Images
Many women would have abandoned their husbands, considering they had been used to living comfortably, but the actress showed support by remaining by his side, leading the musician to state:
“But Marianne really did deserve the $60 million because she is a great girl and we had a perfect marriage for 15 years.”
The late American singer and Lionel Richie perform onstage during Lionel Richie and Friends in Concert on April 2, 2012 | Source: Getty Images
After he settled the debts, the actor was able to open many businesses, including a string of restaurants, a design company, entertainment centers, and recording studios, and he groomed Arabian horses. Life appeared perfect for the duo until the birth of their son, Chris.
The star stated that he would not want to blame their son for the failed marriage but that after his birth, the actress took time away from the entertainment scene to take care of their child, and their lifestyles began to clash.
The late American singer with his firstborn son and daughter at the 12th Annual People’s Choice Awards on March 11, 1986, in Santa Monica, California | Source: Getty Images
At the time of their divorce, Chris was a 12-year-old boy, with the famous musician admitting that the news broke his heart. While recounting it to a reporter, he said that the boy screamed when he first heard the news.
The singer added that his son rushed him with different questions, but he assured his mini-me that they would still spend quality time as father and child should. Although he’d had four failed marriages, the actor still believed in love and marriage.
Four years after his divorce from Marianne Gordon, Kenny Rogers met his fifth wife, Wanda Miller, the woman who captured his heart until his death. During their marriage which lasted longer than previous ones, they became parents to twin boys, Justin and Jordan.
Kenny praised his fifth wife for being his soul mate and being open to understanding his craft. He explained that their time together has been full of joyous memories, reciprocating her love by being attentive to her needs.
Kenny Rogers and his wife Wanda Miller at the 22nd Annual American Music Awards on January 30, 1995, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
At first, Kenny did not want children, and he told his wife as much. His reason was simple; he had reached an age where he felt it might be impossible to enjoy milestones like their college days or 21st birthdays if he had them.
Wanda was twenty-eight years younger than her husband, and she had never had kids, yet she agreed. A few years into their marriage, the musician decided not to be too selfish, so they agreed to have one. Instead, two came! The “Gambler” crooner was a father to twin boys in his 60s, making him ecstatic. He said:
“So we went for it, and when I was told it was twins, man, I was thrilled. So was Wanda. It wasn’t just ‘We are going to have a baby.’ It was totally overwhelming.”
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Despite his fears of not being around long enough, he admitted that the boys strengthened his bond with Wanda. He even revealed that he loved fatherhood. According to him:
“I think being a father is what I’m best at.”
Thankfully, there is no bad blood between Marianne and Wanda, the former has proven to be a mature woman, and she takes her time to support her ex-husband’s wife. Even though the man’s (once married to Janice Gordon, Jean Rogers, and Margo Anderson) marriage to his fourth wife failed, they remained friends until his death.
Marianne maintained a happy connection by sending him cards until he died in 2020, leaving his twin sons without a father in their teenage years. Wanda acknowledged that the singer was the perfect husband. A year after Kenny Rogers’ death, his widow shared a heart-melting tribute to celebrate her deceased spouse, hinting that she would always honor his memories.
