Dolly Parton and others post heartfelt tributes to Kenny Rogers
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<p>Dolly Parton has posted a heartfelt video tribute to her longtime friend, Kenny Rogers, who passed away on Friday.</p>
<p>Rogers, 81, passed away “peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family” at his home in Georgia, according to the<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/_KennyRogers/status/1241244740957413376" target="_blank">Rogers family</a>.</p>
<p>Parton posted the video on her Instagram account, explaining how she heard the news about her friend.</p>
<p>“Well, I couldn’t believe it this morning when I got up and turned on the TV,” said Parton, “and they told me that my friend and singing partner Kenny Rogers had passed away.”</p>
<p>“We all know that Kenny is in a better place than we are today, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to be talking to God sometime today…He’s going to be asking Him to spread some light on a bunch of this darkness that’s going on here.”</p>
<p>“I loved Kenny with all my heart,” she continued. “My heart’s broken, and a big old chunk of it has gone with him today, and I think I can speak for all his family, his friends and fans, when I say, that ‘I will always love you,'” quoting one of her most beloved lyrics.</p>
<p>“God bless you, Kenny,” said Parton, her voice cracking as she cradled a photo of her and Rogers. “Fly high, straight to the arms of God. And to the rest of you, keep the faith.”</p>
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<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
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<p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9_9UgElH-y/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone. I’ve had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend. So you be safe with God and just know that I will always love you, dolly.</a></p>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/dollyparton/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Dolly Parton</a> (@dollyparton) on Mar 21, 2020 at 7:39am PDT</p>
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<p>Other celebrities, such as Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Billy Ray Cyrus have expressed their sympathies to the Rogers family.</p>
<p>"No one bridged the gap between country and pop more often and better than Kenny Rogers. He will be missed, but his music and diverse style of story telling will live on forever,” said Billy Ray Cyrus on his Twitter account.</p>
<p>“THANK YOU KENNY ROGERS- for decades of genre bending music and collaborations - for making music that travelled the globe .. and songs that became common threads for people from all walks of life !! GO REST HIGH BROTHER. With love and deep appreciation . KU,” country singer Keith Urban said on his<span> </span><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://twitter.com/KeithUrban/status/1241453704416550914" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p>"Country music has lost one of its pillars...sing with the angels and talk to God, Kenny. Bless you for being a part of so many lives..." expressed Carrie Underwood.</p>
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