Kenny Rogers’ widow, Wanda Miller, is dating a “very special” person three years after her husband’s death.
Wanda, 56, was devastated when Kenny died in March 2020 at the age of 81. However, she has now revealed that the ‘Islands in the Stream’ star pushed her to move on with her life after his death and gave her his blessing to find love again.
Miller told People magazine: “He said, ‘I’m not going to be here forever. I want that you are happy. you are young I want you to have a fulfilling life after me.”
“And of course I was like, ‘What? I don’t want to talk about that. Turn the TV back on.”
Wanda was Kenny’s fifth wife and they were parents to twins Justin and Jordan, 19.
Next: Kenny Rogers’ widow Wanda Miller is dating a ‘very special’ person three years after her husband’s death; pictured in 2010
Heartbreak: Wanda, 56, was devastated when Kenny died in March 2020 aged 81; pictured in 2014
She added, “One of the great things is showing the guys that life goes on.’ And it does – I’m dating someone very special.’
Wanda expressed her gratitude for the marriage to her late husband, noting, “Kenny gave me his best and wanted me to move on and be happy.”
“That’s a really big man who can say those words and mean business.” I think it just shows what kind of guy he was.”
The couple married in 1997 and had their sons seven years later.
Kenny was also the father of three other children from his previous relationships.
Wanda revealed that she was introduced to her new partner by a friend of the singer’s and the man had previously dated her sister.
The connections to her past convinced her that Kenny was somehow involved in the matchmaking process.
She explained, ‘[Kenny’s friend] introduced me to a friend and he said, “Look, if you don’t date you’ll be friends forever. He will be in your friends arsenal forever.” And we became friends first.”
Family of four: The couple married in 1997 and had their sons seven years later
Precious: Kenny, Wanda and their identical twins posed with the family dog
Wanted added, “It’s funny because a couple of my friends were like, ‘I just feel like Kenny’s a part of it kind of.’ And I know that sounds weird.’
She told the publication that her new partner “tells our kids, ‘I’m not your father. No one will ever take your father’s place, but I am here as your friend forever.”
And she admitted: “It was a big step to follow in these footsteps after all these years I’ve had a very special relationship with this icon.”
“But it was really an easy relationship.”
Rogers passed away in March 2020 of natural causes at his home in Sandy Springs in northern Fulton County, Georgia.
The statement on his death read: “The Rogers family is saddened to announce that Kenny Rogers passed away at 10:25pm last night at the age of 81.”
“Rogers passed away peacefully at home of natural causes in the care of a hospice and surrounded by his family.”
The husky-voiced ballad singer retired from touring in 2017 after a 60-year career spanning jazz, folk, country and pop with hits like “The Gambler,” “Lucille” and “Lady.”
Kenny sold tens of millions of albums, won three Grammys, and starred in TV movies based on “The Gambler” and other songs, earning him superstardom in the ’70s and ’80s.
Despite his crossover success, he was always better known as a country singer.
In 2015, he said, “You either do what everyone else is doing and you’re doing it better, or you’re doing what nobody else is doing and you don’t invite comparison.”
“And I chose this path because I could never be better than Johnny Cash, Willie or Waylon at what they did.
“So I found something I could do that didn’t invite comparison to them.” And I think people thought it was my desire to change country music. But that was never my problem.’
Kenny has regularly worked with female duet partners throughout his career, but more memorable than most was country icon Dolly Parton and her song Islands in the Stream.
The iconic duo was put together at the suggestion of Bee Gee Barry Gibb, who wrote the song that went on to become a huge hit.