Kenny Rogers is a name that is familiar to music fans all over the globe, but did you know that this talented country artist is also one of the most famous people buried in Georgia? Though he had a humble upbringing in Houston, Texas and had mansions in several cities at the height of his fame, he seemed to have a fondness for the Peach State. The singer owned an estate in Atlanta's ritzy Buckhead neighborhood and also had a sprawling farm in Colbert, a small town just outside of Athens. It's fitting, then, that the Peach State is his final resting place. When he passed away in 2020, he was buried in Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery.
Kenny Rogers gained worldwide fame in a successful career that spanned decades.
He is best known for his country music, but he dabbled in a number of genres and, in all, charted more than 120 hit singles in a career that lasted more than 60 years.
Rogers collaborated with several famous artists over the years, including Lionel Richie and Dolly Parton.
Not only was Rogers a Grammy-winning musician, he also found success in other ventures, too.
He started in several films and made-for-TV movies, authored two photo books featuring his own photography, and wrote a memoir.
In 1991, he even opened a chicken and ribs chain that bears his name. Kenny Rogers Roasters no longer has any American locations, but has more than 150 restaurants opened in Asia, where it is still immensely popular.
Rogers's health began to decline in the 2010s, and in March 2020, he passed away while under hospice care at his home near Sandy Springs. He was buried in historic Oakland Cemetery, one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Atlanta.
Oakland Cemetery opened in 1850 as the Atlanta Cemetery. It spans 48 acres and houses over 70,000 graves, including famed golfer Bobby Jones and Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone With the Wind.
His grave is quite striking, and features the lyrics to Will The Circle Be Unbroken, a gospel song first performed by the Carter Family but later covered by Rogers.
For more information about this historic cemetery in Atlanta, visit the Oakland Cemetery website.
Did you know that Kenny Rogers is among the most famous people buried in Georgia?
If you're a big fan of Kenny Rogers, check out this adorable felt ornament on Etsy! We love how cute it is, and it's even handmade.
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