Kenny Rogers had a legendary music career that spanned six decades, but in the end, he chose to step back from the spotlight and focus on his family. He always said he was a father first and a singer second, and he meant it.
He was married five times and had five kids, but his youngest sons, Justin and Jordan, were something special. He had them with his fifth wife, Wanda, when he was already older, and they completely changed how he looked at the future.
He told the local news: “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.” He knew time was short and he didn’t want to miss the big moments.
Before Wanda, Kenny had told her he didn’t want more kids. But when she changed her mind, he said yes. And when they found out it was twins, he was thrilled.
Kenny shared: “It wasn’t just, ‘We are going to have a baby,’ it was totally overwhelming.” At that point in his life, he admitted it scared him a little, knowing he might not be around for all of their milestones, but the joy outweighed the fear.
He even performed with Justin and Jordan at the North Georgia State Fair in 2014. They sang his song “To Me,” and the crowd loved seeing that father-son moment on stage. You could see how proud he was.
Wanda said in an interview that the boys remind her so much of their dad. She said: “I see so much of him in their mannerisms, how they stand with their hands in their pockets or behind their backs when they’re listening to something. I always tell them, ‘That was your dad’s look.'”
Now that they’re 19, they’re grown up and people online say they look just like Kenny. Fans left comments calling them “handsome” and saying they looked “so much like their dad.”
Kenny had a rough start in life. He grew up poor in a housing project, and his dad struggled with alcoholism. Kenny said: “I never drank in my life. I saw it destroy him and saw it destroy other people I work with, so I made a conscious decision about this.”
He worked odd jobs before music took off, but he knew early on he wanted to perform. His mom once told him, “Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” He took that advice to heart.
Kenny had huge hits like “Lucille,” “The Gambler,” and “Islands In The Stream” with Dolly Parton. They remained close friends over the years, even calling each other soul partners.
When Kenny passed in 2020, it was a big loss for fans, but his family has kept his memory alive. Wanda and the twins continue to share updates and photos, including one from their high school graduation.
Kenny once said: “There are a lot of things I want to do together with them to create some special memories.”
