Renowned American gospel singer, worship leader, and songwriter Ron Kenoly has passed away at the age of 81.
Reports say the legendary musician died on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, with the news confirmed by several gospel artistes and worship leaders through their social media pages. Since the announcement, tributes have continued to pour in from across the global Christian music community, celebrating Kenoly as a generational inspiration whose songs shaped modern worship.
In Nigeria, popular gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey paid tribute to the late singer on Instagram, describing him as a major influence on his spiritual and musical journey.
“Dr Ron Kenoly crosses to yonder side. Thank you for inspiring generations of psalmists like me. I grew up on these songs. And today, others are growing up on ours. Thank you sir,” Bassey wrote.
Ron Kenoly was widely known for timeless worship songs such as “Majesty,” “Righteousness, Peace & Joy,” “Anointing,” “All Honour,” “Sing Out,” “Lift Him,” “Jesus Is Alive,” and many others. His music helped define congregational worship across churches worldwide and remains influential to this day.
Born on December 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, Kenoly rose to international prominence during the 1980s and 1990s, becoming famous for leading large-scale live worship concerts that deeply impacted churches – especially across Africa.
He began his professional music journey after serving in the United States Air Force, and later achieved a major breakthrough in 1992 when his album Lift Him became one of the fastest-selling worship albums of its time.
Another notable project, Welcome Home, produced by Tom Brooks, received strong critical acclaim and also topped Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Music charts.
Ron Kenoly is remembered as a trailblazer whose sound, spirit, and message of praise inspired countless worship leaders, musicians, and believers around the world.
