That word, "desperately," says so much. He could recognize the distance, but recognizing it did not make it easy to repair. Two years later, he explained how work could consume the time a parent thought would always be available. Another project seemed manageable, until another followed it.
"The next thing you know, the child is grown up, and you can't relate to him at all," Kenny said.
Kenny Jr. eventually built his own entertainment career as an actor and composer. His work includes television movies and a miniseries, along with soundtrack contributions to "Get Him to the Greek" in 2010 and "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" in 2016.
Kenny Rogers shares a laugh with his eldest son, Kenny Rogers Jr., during a visit to "Extra" at Universal Studios Hollywood on October 3, 2013, in Universal City, California. The country music legend smiles broadly in a light lavender button-down shirt paired with a braided choker necklace, while Kenny Jr. beams beside him dressed in a dark blazer over a vibrant blue collared shirt. | Source: Getty Images
