On October 25, 1992, Roger Miller died at Century City Hospital in Los Angeles, California, after a year-long battle with lung cancer. He was 56.
A few months before his death, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter announced that he was undergoing radiation treatment after the discovery of a cancerous tumor below his vocal cords. He found out that he had lung cancer in the fall of 1991.
When once asked how he would like to be remembered, Miller replied, “I just don’t want to be forgotten.” Sadly, Miller was a constant cigarette smoker. He even wrote a song about his hard habit to break called “Dad Blame Anything A Man Can’t Quit.”
Roger Miller Has Been Loved By Many Since His Rose To Fame
Roger Miller rose to fame in the 1960s with his bouncy and humorous tunes that hit on both the pop and country charts. More significantly, his witty lyrics brought him eleven Grammy Awards. To this day, Roger Miller songs continue to be recorded by several notable artists, such as Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn.
In 1995, he was recognized for his songwriting and musical artistry when he was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame – which his wife, Mary Arnold, said would have been a dream come true for Miller.
A week after Miller’s death, many of his friends and relatives squeezed into the Ryan Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, to hold a memorial service for the iconic country singer. They told their favorite stories about Miller and listened to his music.
Truly, Miller has lived a legendary life and musical career. He will, without a doubt, forever be remembered.
