Famous American gospel singer Pastor Ron Kenoly has passed away at the age of 81.
The announcement of his death was made by his team on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, triggering an outpouring of tributes from Christian music communities and worship leaders across the world.
Kenoly became a global sensation in the 90s through his powerful live worship recordings. He was a major factor in shaping contemporary praise and worship music.
His songs ministered to people deeply and were well accepted beyond the shores of America.
Kenoly’s works penetrated churches across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas, with many of his songs becoming an integral part of modern worship services.
The gospel icon was born on December 6, 1944, in Coffeyville, Kansas, United States. Kenoly gained global recognition with the release of Lift Him Up With Ron Kenoly in 1992
His hits such as “Jesus Is Alive,” “Ancient of Days,” and “We’re Going Up” have been part of worship songs sung in churches across the world since then.
The late gospel singer released more than 20 albums, including God Is Able, Sing Out With One Voice and Welcome Home, during his illustrious career.
He popularised choir-backed performances and congregational worship style, effectively blending gospel, praise and contemporary Christian music in a way that influenced generations of worship leaders.
In his lifetime, Kenoly was a respected pastor and worship leader, serving prominently at Jubilee Christian Center in San Jose, California.
He featured prominently at international worship conferences, seminars and church events. He gave his time to mentor worship teams and led large-scale praise gatherings.
Tributes have been pouring in for him since the announcement of his demise on his Instagram page by his management.
Many of the early tributes acknowledged the role of the late gospel singer in shaping their faith and inspiring their approach to worship.
Nigerian gospel minister Nathaniel Bassey and other notable worship leaders acknowledged his profound influence on multiple generations of gospel singers.
Read Also: Brazilian gospel singer Pedro Henrique slumps, dies during performance
