Country Songwriter Don Schlitz Dies At 73

April 26, 2026 7:00 am Published by

Don Schlitz, the legendary country songwriter, has died at age 73.

Schlitz penned Kenny Rogers’ iconic “The Gambler,” which became a career-defining hit and spawned a television movie series.

His songwriting credits also include “On the Other Hand” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” for Randy Travis, “When You Say Nothing at All” recorded by Keith Whitley and Alison Krauss, and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her” for Mary Chapin Carpenter.

The two-time Grammy winner also co-wrote “Strong Enough to Bend” for Tanya Tucker.

Schlitz was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017, recognizing his profound impact on country music.

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This post was written by Cheryl Johnstone