Kenny Rogers: From Poverty in Houston to Country Music Legend Kenny Rogers never sugarcoated his beginnings. In his final on-camera appearance before his passing in 2020, the Gambler himself said it plainly: “We were poor, there’s no doubt about that.” Before the Grammys, Hall of Fame honors, and 120 hit singles, Rogers grew up in the projects of Houston, Texas.
There were no manicured lawns or comforts of wealth — just cracked sidewalks, low-income housing, and faith that tomorrow might bring something better. What they did have was music. His father played fiddle, his uncles and aunts joined in, and the family filled their front porch with songs that cost nothing but meant everything.
Siblings recalled the struggle. “We were poor, there’s no doubt about that,” said his brother Roy. Sister Sandy remembered, “We struggled, you know, but we had faith we would make it through.” That resilience shaped…