Ron Kenoly dies at 81
Renowned American gospel singer, songwriter, and worship leader Ron Kenoly has died at the age of 81.
Kenoly passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026; news of his death was confirmed by his longtime music director, Bruno Miranda, in a statement shared on the singer’s official Instagram page.
“This morning, Feb. 3, 2026, we said goodbye to Dr. Ron Kenoly,” Miranda wrote, triggering an outpouring of tributes from gospel ministers, musicians and worshippers across continents.
Just days before his death, Kenoly reflected on his life’s work in what has now become a poignant final message.
In an Instagram post shared on Sunday, February 1, he expressed gratitude for the people who walked with him through decades of ministry.
“I am 81 and in my 48th year of ministry. These are some of those who helped me reach over 123 nations around the world over the past 20 years,” he wrote.
Among those paying tribute was Nigerian gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey, who described Kenoly as a generational voice that shaped his own journey in worship.
“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 on Instagram.
Miranda, who worked closely with Kenoly for more than two decades, described him as far more than a musical icon, but a mentor and spiritual father who lived out the message he preached.
“For over 20 years, I had the honour of walking alongside him in ministry around the world, not just as his music director, but as a son, a student, and a witness to a life marked by faithfulness,” he said.
He added that Kenoly was intentional about his calling and rejected the idea of worship as performance.
“A worship leader’s calling is not to perform songs, but to lead people into true worship in the presence of a King, the King of Kings, Jesus Christ,” Miranda noted. “Today we grieve deeply, but not without hope. The worship he lived is now the worship he beholds.”
Born on December 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, Ron Kenoly began singing in his local Baptist church before joining the United States Air Force after high school.
Following his military service, he explored different music styles before fully committing to worship ministry in 1985.
He rose to global prominence in the late 1980s and 1990s, becoming widely known for leading massive live worship gatherings that influenced churches worldwide, particularly across Africa.
His 1992 album Lift Him Up became a landmark release, earning Gold certification after selling more than 500,000 copies and ranking as the fastest-selling worship album of its time.
Another project, Welcome Home, produced by Tom Brooks, topped Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Music charts.
Kenoly’s catalogue includes enduring worship anthems such as “Majesty,” “Righteousness, Peace & Joy,” “Anointing,” “All Honour,” “Sing Out,” “Lift Him Up,” and “Jesus Is Alive,” songs that continue to define congregational worship decades later.
Until his passing, he remained actively involved in ministry, serving on university faculties in the United States, mentoring worship leaders and pastors, and travelling extensively to minister across nations.
Ron Kenoly leaves behind a towering legacy of faith, sound and spirit, one that continues to echo in churches and hearts around the world.
