Kenny Rogers and Marianne Gordon divorced after 15 years, 3 months of marriage. The settlement was reportedly an estimated $60M. See the full timeline.
Figures are reported estimates. Last updated Oct 2026.
Gordon, an actress, received $60M from the country music legend.
Kenny Rogers, the country singer known for The Gambler and Lucille, married the actress Marianne Gordon in October 1977, his fourth marriage. Gordon, who had appeared on the television program Hee Haw, was a rising performer when they met, and the couple had one son, Christopher, born in 1978. Rogers was by then a major star of country and pop crossover music, and Gordon gave up part of her acting career to join him at home and on the road during his most productive years.
Rogers sold more than 100 million records over his career and had a string of number-one hits in the late 1970s and 1980s, including Lady, Islands in the Stream with Dolly Parton and Lucille. He appeared in television films based on The Gambler, which became a successful franchise, and he had business interests in restaurants, including the Kenny Rogers Roasters chain. His earnings from record sales, television and touring all came during the marriage, making them part of the shared estate.
The marriage lasted 16 years, from 1977 until 1993, and it covered the peak of Rogers's career. During this time he moved from being a country singer to a figure in mainstream entertainment. After the divorce, Rogers married Wanda Miller in 1997, and they had twin sons in 2004. He continued to perform until a farewell tour in 2017 and died in March 2020.
The reported settlement was around $60 million, although the figure is hard to verify and appears only in press accounts. The couple's agreement was said to include a share of property and income, and arrangements for their son. The terms were not published, and, as with many entries on this list, the figure should be treated as an estimate.
The 16-year marriage covered the peak of Rogers's career, and under California law his earnings during that period would be treated as community property. His income from albums, concert tours, television and business interests was large, and the settlement probably reflected a share of both income and assets. The fact that the marriage came late in his career, when his earning power was at its height, made the numbers significant.
Rogers's career continued after the divorce, and he remained a popular live performer. His restaurant business, Kenny Rogers Roasters, which he had co-founded in 1991 with John Y. Brown Jr., expanded but later ran into financial difficulty and went into bankruptcy in 1998. Rogers also moved into photography and published books. His catalog continued to earn royalties, and he was a major touring act for decades.
Rogers's divorce belongs to the group of country music settlements that includes Garth Brooks's, though it was smaller and took place earlier. Both illustrate how long marriages during the peak of a singer's career can result in large property division. The amounts, in both cases, are best understood as media estimates.
Rogers was married five times in total. He won three Grammy Awards, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Islands in the Stream, his duet with Dolly Parton, was written by the Bee Gees. His farewell tour began in 2017 after he announced his retirement from touring. The $60 million figure is a reported estimate.
Marianne Gordon's reported settlement was about $60 million.
They married in 1977 and divorced in 1993, a marriage of roughly 16 years.
No prenuptial agreement was reported.
Yes, the family is reported to include 1 children.
Reported assets include: Georgia estate, music royalties, real estate.
The 16-year marriage covered the peak of Rogers's career, and under California law his earnings during that period would be treated as community property. His income from albums, concert tours, television and business interests was large, and the settlement probably reflected a share of both income and assets.
* Settlement terms were not publicly disclosed. This figure is an estimate.