When legendary country music singer and songwriter Kenny Rogers passed away on March 20, 2020, he left behind a family who loved him dearly. He was married to his fifth wife, Wanda Miller, for 22 years up until his death and they shared twin sons together – he had three other children with three other wives.
Those twin sons – Justin Rogers and Jordan Rogers – were born on July 6, 2004 and celebrated their 19th birthday just one week ago. They’ve always held a tight bond with their father and are now opening up about the many life lessons their father taught them growing up and how they keep his memory alive.
Kenny Rogers Dies at 81
— Harriette Cassick (@HarrietteCassi1) March 21, 2020
Died: March 20, 2020, Colbert, GA
Born: August 21, 1938, Houston, TX
Spouse: Wanda Miller (m. 1997–2020)
Children: Christopher Cody Rogers, Jordan Edward Rogers, Justin Charles Rogers, Kenny Rogers Jr., Carole Rogers
Rest In Peace ???????? pic.twitter.com/ZCgBakaDCb
For example, they still take part in Super Saturdays – a tradition they had with their father that involved taking a weekly trip (with just the boys) to McDonald’s for breakfast, the car wash, and Chuck E. Cheese. While their father can’t be there physically, they know he’s there in spirit as they maintain the tradition.
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“I remember all the fun memories we used to have at Chuck E. Cheese. We still go to that location and we sit at the exact same table that we used to,” Jordan said in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, which was published in this week’s issue. He was accompanied by his twin brother, Justin.
Justin described his father as a ‘really fun dad’ and added that he misses ‘everything about him’ – the twins were just 16 years old when Kenny Rogers died under hospice care. As for Jordan, he holds onto a beautiful and sweet piece of advice his father gave him after he came home from school crying one day.
“I used to be bullied a lot. I’d come home crying and my dad would say, ‘Just keep being yourself. You’re very funny. Every day I still live up to that,” Jordan said of his advice. Now 19 years old, the twins recently graduated high school and are planning on taking a year off from school to figure out what’s next in life.
In addition to Justin and Jordan, Kenny Rogers – whose legendary music career spanned seven decades – is a father to Christopher Rogers, 41 (who he shares with Marianne Gordon), Kenny Rogers Jr., 59 (who he shares with Margo Anderson), and Carole Rogers, 64 (who he shares with Janice Gordon).
Kenny Rogers Sings About His Twins on Posthumous Album
On June 2, 2023 – roughly three years after Kenny Rogers’ death in March 2020 – Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) released the first posthumous studio album by Kenny Rogers. The album was fit with 10 tracks, including eight previously unreleased tracks that were recorded between 2008 and 2011.
In one of those songs – ‘Catchin’ Grasshoppers’ – Rogers sings about some of the special memories he has with his twins throughout their childhood. “I loved the album a lot. Before it was completed, my mom let us listen to ‘Catchin’ Grasshoppers’ and my eyes started tearing up,” Jordan said to PEOPLE.
The twins were always inspired by their father’s musical talents and it has apparently rubbed off on them – Justin enjoys playing the guitar, while Jordan is more drawn to the drums. Some of their favorite songs by their father include ‘Coward of the County,’ ‘Love Will Turn You Around,’ and ‘The Gambler.’
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Kenny Rogers’ ex-wife Wanda Miller. also appears in the exclusive interview and talks about how similar the twins’ mannerisms are to their father – for example, ‘how they stand with their hands in their pockets or behind their backs when they’re listening to something.’ According to Miller, that was Kenny’s look.
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