Just days after Kenny Rogers’ death, a song called “Goodbye” resurfaced and was released to radio for the first time by Capitol Nashville.
One week after Rogers’ death, Capitol Nashville sent the song “Goodbye” to country radio on March 27, 2020, with a sentimental message.
“Those closest to Kenny wanted to make this track available to all of his fans,” the label said, according to Billboard.
The “Goodbye” song written by Lionel Richie was one of the last songs Rogers recorded for Capitol Records. Even though it had not been released before, it was featured on Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years, a 45-track compilation released by Time-Life in 2009.
Universal Music Group Nashville CEO Mike Dungan shared with Billboard the backstory to the song “Goodbye” and how bringing it to radio came to fruition.
Mike Dungan wanted to express his condolences after Rogers’ death and reached out to his current manager Ken Levitan. Levitan brought up “Goodbye” to Dungan expressing that the song is about losing a loved one and dealing with it.
“He really says goodbye in that song, I don’t know what was going on in his head when he cut it,” Dungan stated.
Listen to Rogers song “Goodbye” below.