Never really liked his style of country music, but he was good at what he did.
I understand. Merle Haggard was country. Kenny was a Pop singer. His first albums with the First Edition got play on the POP/Rock charts. But, at that time rock was trending towards metal, so the pop sound didn't get much play.
The song Lucille got play on the rock stations, but also got played on country radio, so he found his new radio home.
Country has always found room for the crooners. Ray Price, Conway Twitty, then Kenny Rogers. Today, Darrius Rucker, former Hootie singer has found a home on a country label.
Good music is good music. It finds it's place.