It’s been four years since the country music legend Kenny Rogers died at the age of 81. Now, his fellow country music star Reba McEntire is speaking out to reveal the one regret she still has about him.
McEntire’s Regret About Gill
McEntire recently revealed that Rogers that Rogers was actually her first choice for a duet that she ultimately cut with Vince Gill.
“‘Heart Won’t Lie’ was a song we were trying to get a duet on with Kenny Rogers, and the keys just would not work,” McEntire explained, according to Wide Open Country. “Then I took the song and did the duet with Vince. I didn’t tell Kenny, which was my mistake, totally.”
“The Heart Won’t Lie” features McEntire and Gill acting as old lovers who are denying that they still have feelings for one another. It was a massive hit, becoming McEntire’s 17th number-one single and Gill’s third. The song picked up a CMA nomination for Vocal Event of the Year in 1993, according to American Songwriter.
Check it out in the video below.
Related: Dolly Parton Honors Kenny Rogers Ahead Of Three Year Anniversary Of His Death
Rogers Confronts McEntire
Afterwards, Rogers reportedly confronted McEntire at the CMA Awards.
“Kenny approached me at the CMA Awards,” she recalled. “He said, ‘Why did you do that?’ I said, ‘Kenny, I am so sorry. We were just going so fast. It’s a great, wonderful song. I never even considered coming back and talking to you about that, and that’s one of the things I totally regret.'”
“I hugged his neck, and I told him I was terribly sorry,” she continued. “But I did not do that maliciously.”
This came at a difficult time for McEntire, as it was months after the 1991 plane crash that killed eight members of her band and entourage.
“I was still in a state of disbelief and not knowing what I’m gonna do moving forward after the plane crash,” she said.
Despite this setback, McEntire and Rogers remained close friends until the end of his life. They later got to duet together on the song “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer.”
Check that out in the video below.
Related: Dolly Parton Convinced Kenny Rogers Not To Pass On One Of His Most Iconic Songs
Rogers Passes Away
McEntire was devastated when Rogers died in March of 2020 at the age of 81. His family told ABC News at the time that he “passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family.”
“Kenny, Go rest high on that mountain. Please tell mama and daddy hi for me,” she said at the time. “Thank you for your friendship and your love. We are going to miss you but we are so happy you’re singing with the Angels in heaven. Can’t wait to see you again one of these days. Rest in peace my friend.”
Months later, McEntire opened up about just how much she misses Rogers.
“I miss him so much,” McEntire told Taste Of Country. “He’s such a special person and a big-hearted giver.”
Find out more about Rogers’ death in the video below.
Rogers was a true legend, and there will never be another one like him. While it’s nice to see McEntire publicly expressing her regret against him, we’re sure he didn’t hold it against her by the end of his life!
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