Three years after saying “Goodbye” to the love of her life, Wanda Miller is finally opening up about the beloved singer, Kenny Rogers, who spent his final day with family, watching movies and eating his favorite dish, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce.
Since his death in 2020, his widow Wanda, 56, has been on a journey of grief and finding ways to keep his memory and legacy alive. In June, she curated an album from the singer’s archives, his posthumous album called “Life is Like a Song,” the last title “Goodbye,” which was written by close friend Lionel Ritchie.
Keep reading to learn more about Roger’s final release and his last day!
Adored by fans since he first shared his lulling voice in 1956, Kenny Rogers was a genre-crossing artist with music that’s cherished by multiple generations.
Over his prominent five decades-long career, the “Coward of the County” singer sold more than 100 million records and won three Grammys, 18 American Music Awards, and a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
His biggest hits include his signature song “The Gambler,” “Lucille,” “Ruby,” “Lady” and “Islands in the Stream,” the duet with Dolly Parton that topped the pop charts in 1983.
When the country music legend, 81, died in March 2020, he shattered the hearts of millions of international fans, including celebrity friends like Dolly Parton and Lionel Ritchie, and left behind four ex-wives that he shared three children, and wife Wanda Miller along with twin sons, Justin and Jordon.
Wanda met Rogers in 1993 while she was working as a hostess at an Atlanta restaurant, and he showed up on a blind date with another woman.
Capturing the singer’s heart, he left and called the restaurant later, leaving a message for the young woman.
Reflecting on their meeting , Wanda shared, “The bartenders always would play jokes on me. They said, ‘Oh, Kenny Rogers called back,’ and they gave me a note.” Wanda continued, “I balled it up and threw it in a trash can, and they went diving after it. I thought, ‘Maybe they’re not joking.’ It all started out like that, [but] we just became really close, and it grew from there.”
Wanda, who was only 26 at the time, wasn’t sure about starting a relationship with a man 28 years older. But they formed a deep connection and married in 1997, welcoming twin sons Justin and Jordan in 2004.
Still broken hearted and feeling the immense pain over losing the man she fell in love with 26 years ago, Wanda–in her first interview since his death–shares how she “misses everything about him.”
“You would think Kenny was the most average guy. He was never pretentious, and he sort of taught [the boys] that. He never needed any special attention” Wanda, now 56, tells People. “I miss his love, his support. I miss his touch. I miss everything about him. I wish we could have that one last conversation just to say, ‘Are you good? Are you OK?’”
Every week, the family would have a “Super Saturday,” that started with breakfast at McDonald’s breakfast and ended with Chuck E. Cheese after a trip to the car wash.
Rogers died on the Friday and Saturdays would no longer be super.
Since his death, Wanda has been flooded by grief and also working steadily to keep his memory and legacy alive.
“I want to make sure his legacy grows and stays alive,” Wanda said about the June 2023 of the album Life is Like a Song. “I think Kenny would be beyond happy and proud of the album. Kenny’s whole thing was he always wanted to say in a song what every man wanted to say and every woman wanted to hear. I think this would fall right into that category.”
The album, curated with songs Rogers recorded between 2008 and 2011, include songwriters like Kim Carnes, Eric Clapton and Lionel Ritchie, who worked on the song “Goodbye.”
Ritchie, who while grieving the death of his father, lived with the multi-talented star for years in Los Angeles while launching his solo career. The two were close friends, or “brothers,” as Wanda said, adding that the “All Night Long” singer has been a pillar of support and still frequently calls, helping her through hard days.
“When things are tough, you know who your real friends are. And I think he knew,” she says. “[Lionel] is truly Kenny’s brother. He definitely just wants to make sure that I’m always OK and the boys are OK. He just has the biggest heart.”
After almost three decades together, they spent the singer’s last day at home, watching movies and eating Rogers’ favorite dish, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce.
Wanda explains that losing him at home gives her some comfort and wanting to keep every precious minute of their time together fresh in her mind, she oftentimes re-reads journal entries she wrote that last day.
“I still get choked up reading it, but it does give me happiness that it was a day full of ice cream and movies,” she says. “With him passing away at home, you don’t know how it affects kids. And Justin said the next morning, ‘Mom, one thing about dad passing away at home…’ And I thought, ‘Uh-oh.’ And he said, ‘His sweet spirit will be here forever.’ And I was like, ‘High five to that. Yes, absolutely it will.’”
Now 19, the boys often speak of their father and are overjoyed when they hear his music played in restaurants, at the grocery store and even in hotel lobbies.
Though the family is supporting each other in overcoming grief, and finding happiness, Wanda explains there’s some guilt in knowing that the “We’ve Got Tonight” singer will miss out on watching the boy’s grow.
“The boys went deep-sea fishing for the first time, and it was just me and a couple of girls that took them, and I still felt bad,” she says. “I felt like Kenny should be there. It really gets me still.”
Through her pain, Wanda notices little signs that she says makes her believe her late husband is watching over the family.
“There are little red birds around our house, and we can be talking about Kenny and one will land right on the balcony looking in the window. Everywhere we go, it’s red birds.” Wanda continued, “One thing Lionel said was, ‘You don’t have to ask for signs. It may not come right away, but you will get signs.’ And that’s ours.”
Kenny Rogers is deeply missed by everyone and we cannot image the pain his family experiences every day since his loss. We send our thoughts and wishes to Wanda Miller and the twins, along with his other children.
Thankfully, his music keeps him alive and we are happy to have one last album, “Life is Like a Song,” to remember the legendary Kenny Rogers!
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