Charlie Rich Sets Fire to John Denver’s CMA Slip 1975

While the paper burned, he announced that the winner of the award was "My friend Mr. John Denver." ... Others speculated that Rich's behavior was a protest against the award going to Denver, whose music Rich had considered too "pop" and not enough "country".

[@bigmike4618]

Farva brought me here...

[@hamletsmill258]

So?

[@favrerules04]

So you're saying your going to set my Country Music Award on fire?

[@ChrisOmo]

Big Mike a Bahahahhahahaaa. Me too. Had to see it

[@panaderofilms]

Holy shit.. me too!

[@fikascore]

Same in 2020

[@zachcando]

I don’t want a large Farva, I want a goddamn liter o’ cola

[@jubalcalif9100]

I prefer Fresca myself.....

[@stevenpyron3406]

Liter of cola....do we have liter of cola?

[@brian5o]

“Mr Sunshine on my Goddamn Shoulder John Denver.”

[@r6685]

Damn you beat me to it!

[@bouncejuggle]

Do you believe that? Replaced by John fucking Denver!

[@7550375503]

Brian50 😅

[@lowellirish]

Wow, really?

[@oilersridersbluejays]

That’s amazing!

[@redline2115]

At least he didn't slap John Denver in the face.

[@astraluna6is9]

Or the other way around

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@astraluna6is9 Touche !

[@seanshukoski3457]

How could he, John wasn’t there in person.

[@onecoolcat2478]

😅😅😅😅😅

[@slyguythreeonetwonine3172]

Pretty much the only way it could have been worse. 💀

[@gokopeterson6706]

Whoever said John Denver wasn't country listen to those songs he wrote they said he was more folk but if you listen to a lot of folk songs they sound a lot like country infact that's what where country got started was from folk music. I love John Denver he wrote so many wonderful songs l think charlie rich was jealous cause he didn't get nominated that year but he won the year before .

[@loishill9064]

Well Getting THE PERMANENT BLACK LIST HE DESERVED.🎵🎸🎶

[@MrRazorblade999]

He wanted Waylon to win, like most reasonable people

[@gbh5912]

​@@loishill9064 ...and we never noticed him gone because he really was a no one.

[@jeanluc1313]

Yeah. Charlie’s son said as much, in addition to him having been drunk. But at the time many country purists considered John Denver’s music too “soft” to be what they considered “true country music.” And really, his music does have more in common with Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins than either George Jones or Merle Haggard.

[@turnsufficient4971]

@gokopeterson6706 You have the best and most mature comment - out of all the comments. You nailed it ! 👏

[@misternewoutlook5437]

I was interested to read the comments about this. It's clear the purists ultimately lost as the decades rolled along. Denver eventually performed at the Grand Ole Opry and was well-received with raucous excitement and brought the house down. Denver's performance at Farm Aid in the 1980s was a highlight of the event. My mom was a pure country music fan and so were her friends and they all loved John Denver. I like him too. Great memories and pleasant heart warming music.

[@aristotleasparaguspodcast1129]

According to Charlie's son, he was drunk and high on pain medication at the time and harbored no ill will towards John. Folk and country have always been musical allies, even some conservative-leaning country singers like Glen Campbell and Merle Haggard covered songs by Dylan, Seeger, Guthrie etc.

[@rynolascavio3381]

Most of those late 60s and early 70s country stars were absolute trash

[@msears8576]

@@rynolascavio3381 Time to put your crack pipe away.

[@WolverinePete]

With that hair, Charlie Rich was a bathrobe away from being a Star Trek villain. Lmao

[@DellaStreet123]

I love his hair.

[@s4dreamland671]

Lmao!

[@raybrown1725]

I like to believe we are all a bathrobe away from our dreams

[@Rareplymouth]

🤣

[@Elvis2TheMax]

Omg😂😂😂

[@dakotastarchild4424]

Farva was Charlie Rich and Rabbit was John Denver.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Apparently yes. 🤷

[@jordanlatham3704]

Literally watching the movie as we speak 😂

[@howardbannister745]

So you're saying you're gonna light my country music award on fire?

[@dreadree3321]

It looks like he was prepared to burn it regardless. He started pulling out three lighter before he even read it. I wonder if he were drunk and thought it was humorous?

[@DellaStreet123]

He was drunk, no doubt, he cannot even open the envelope properly. But he probably knew already who had won the award beforehand, and even if he didn't know -- I can read upside down, and I think most people can as well. It's no surprise he had a lighter on hand because he was a smoker.

[@mattbickett5368]

According to Charlie's son, Charlie had broken some bones in his foot prior to this event and had not only taken prescription pain meds on this evening but had also drank a little too much alchohol once he arrived at the awards show. Charlie's son believes his father was just clowning around attempting to be funny and wasnt slighting JD intentionally.

[@dillydilly6817]

they know who it is beforehand

[@dallasjohnson909]

Looks like he was geeked on coke

[@ronniebishop2496]

He was doped up and was trying to be funny and some thought he was protesting Denver not being country enough, good god he’d burn the whole damn building down now lol.

[@deannabishop600]

Keep wondering what Charlie Rich would have done in 2024 at the ACM award show. He might have set the whole place on fire. Also two songs come to mind - Barbara Mandrell’s “ I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” & Alan Jackson’s “ Gone Country” . The one thing you can count on is change as the years go by.

[@OjaiRoy]

Super Troopers on the Comedy channel bought me here

[@colechillen7700]

Team Ramrod.

[@sheltv100]

I would have done the same thing at the last Grammy Awards when Cardi B won for her WAP video.

[@lowellirish]

Cardi B...John Denver...yup, birds of a feather...

[@oilersridersbluejays]

What the fuck is Cardi B and why are they singing about Italians?

[@sheltv100]

@@oilersridersbluejays WAP means Wet A$& P&$$#. Look up Cardi B and see about who she is and how uncultured she is.

[@MrBJG79]

She didn’t win a Grammy for WAP.

[@bpdietzel84]

You would act like a snowflake just like Charlie here?

[@roshangeorge2127]

John Denver's talent could make even the best singers jealous. John Denver was really that good.

[@kevinjUtube]

Poor pilot though

[@nickandmikec]

Rich wasn't jealous, it was a joke. Rich and Denver were friends. It was a gag.

[@kevinjUtube]

@@nickandmikec go back and read about after the incident. Years later he felt bad and reached out to Denver

[@tomdavis3038]

I always thought he was an ok singer and good songwriter but a great entertainer. Cheers

[@Danny-uz9zb]

@@kevinjUtube Just a stupid comment by a stupid person.

[@ElizaDolittle]

I remember when this happened. I was stunned.

[@weshunter_musicman]

They should have banned rich

[@josephcoletrain4914]

@@weshunter_musicman john denver had more talent in his pinky than rich had in his entire lifetime

[@clevelandbci9562]

@@weshunter_musicman They did

[@clevelandbci9562]

@@weshunter_musicman kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHaqhpWud8d4eaM

[@weshunter_musicman]

@@clevelandbci9562 Good. that makes me feel better

[@svjim1]

Back then I remember hearing things about how some in Nashville resented people they didn't consider real country music people. That would be John Denver and Olivia Newton - John, to name two at that time.

[@kaylaallison5471]

I came here after listening to the saving country music podcast. I'm in love with music history and I never knew this happened. John Denver always had a weird relationship with the people of the Country genre throughout his career. Some artists didn't think he belonged in country music. I personally always put him in the country and folk genres of music. I love the music of both John Denver and Charlie Rich.😊😊 I thought this was a bizarre thing that Rich did.

[@samuel6234]

If you really dig you’ll find that Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tompall Glaser, and others were what most considered really country, with John Denver and other pop style country artists being Nashville’s mainstream, everyone wanted the outsiders like the ones I mentioned before to go big instead of the pop country. And I personally believe Charlie Rich wanted a change.

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

@@samuel6234 he was drunk like most the time for him where denver was stoned.

[@dominicskywalker]

I volunteered at a folk festival for a week for a few years and I’d always get people telling me that John Denver was a folk artist and the best of us. But with most country music fans they say that he’s country but was never really good except for a song or two.

[@gbh5912]

C Rich is just an idiot, always was

[@urusledge]

​@@samuel6234 how is it pop?

[@markdillman7809]

I sure would like to see this entire presentation including Charlie's "speech". It's been available a few times but not lately.

[@beaglybeagle]

Thanks for sharing this! I was just reading about it on Wikipedia, before I came to the You Tube site.

[@80steen44]

Interestingly, he said that it bothered him that his burning of the paper was always viewed as a protest towards John Denver. I know a lot of people don't believe him, but he does say when announcing him "My friend" so I always felt that line may have been proof that he was being sincere. As to what the reason was to why he did it, who knows? He was drunk so maybe he just thought it would be cool

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

If you watch closely he is pulling the lighter before he even has a chance to read the name. My guess is he was going to burn it no matter who it was and planned it. How that lines up with him being stinking drunk, according to reports, is not clear, but equally as confusing has him being drunk and not having time to read the paper while already grabbing the lighter. No matter what it is a jerk thing to do.

[@maestroofamore8948]

Given Rich's manifest disrespect for Denver in this clip, it's difficult to interpret "my friend" as anything but bitter sarcasm. Rich was undoubtedly aware of the nominees and came prepared to protest with his lighter in the likely event that he'd be forced to honor Mr. Denver - assuming that most Country fans, particularly from his generation, would secretly cheer his boorish stunt.

[@80steen44]

@@maestroofamore8948 And Rich wasn't even pure country ever

[@pamelajackson2383]

radically attention seeking....it's sad.

[@justintime1343]

@@pamelajackson2383 While Rich was up on stage, he already had everyone's attention. He was seeking approval by proving his country cred.

[@keithkuhn607]

John wasn't Country. He was Folk.

[@93seronica]

I love how the internet will preserve this moment forever

[@guyfroml]

And with that stunt, Charlie Rich's career took a "quick downturn" and was over within a year or two. Not even a future award nomination or even a mentioning of his name again (fact). Then, of course, was that Denver's music actually "saved" country music, which was on the ropes when it came to sales and growth. And the very criticism of Denver's music for being more pop than country, set the tone for the entire future of country music. Makes you wonder what ol' Charlie boy would have thought about some of Garth Brooks' music or Brad Paisley.

[@minecraftdude909090]

@Paul Kryder seems like the purists really have a case today, look at the constant references to beer, 4x4s and women in the past 15 years.. someone needs to bring it back to the grassroots at least. The snap tracks and lack of steel guitars hurt to hear

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Biggest things that would make me a purist is: -Why do we need to rap in a country song? -Where’s the twang of the steel guitar? Where’s the fiddle? A banjo if you want a bluegrass sound? -Why must we always sing about trucks and beer? I have a truck and I like beer, but I don’t need to listen to 10 different variations of those same two things. In reality, all genres are suffering from this repetitive, rehashed garbage. Music has lost it soul and talent. Instruments are replaced by computers, voices are too perfect or are auto tuned, and the lyrics have the depth of a rain puddle in New Mexico.

[@angelmunoz34]

@@oilersridersbluejays preach brother

[@RockinEd]

SCUUUUUUSE ME?????? NO WAYLON AND WILLIE SAVED COUNTRY MUSIC

[@BBQFanNo1]

Yup true John Denver, Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and Others actually helped save Country in the mid to late 1970's.

[@adamspark9259]

I hope one day we all realize that country music has never in its history been void of stars not considered country by a large group in and out of the industry. You could almost say that country music is a genre centered around singers not considered country by a large contingent, including other singers not considered country by somebody. I was born in 1980 and have yet to see a decade where country was not dominated by singers who started a "not country" argument. I know it happened well before this too.

[@johndenverfan]

Absolutely Disgusting So Disrespectful To John Rip JD We Miss You Beyond Words 😭

[@Ophiegasm]

"Back in '74 the great Charlie Rich was named Country musician of the year. Then in '75 he had to hand the award off to the new winner. And you know who that was? Mister sunshine on my goddamn shoulders John Denver! Can you believe it? Replaced by John fuckin Denver. Well I'll be damaged if Mr. Rich didn't pull out his cigarette lighter right there and light that award on fire in front of everyone."

[@KickingAssDaily]

So what you're saying is you're going to light my country music award on fire?

[@Ophiegasm]

@@KickingAssDaily I'm saying when my suspensions up, you better watch your ass.

[@oilersridersbluejays]

Or you’ll light my ass on fire!

[@bettertvreceptionwithfoilf7100]

Who is Charlie Rich, and why is Hulk Hogan lighting that paper on fire?

[@ronfowlermusic]

Wash your 🐕 dam mouth with soap

[@spybug3267]

John Denver - Class Charlie Rich - Ass

[@jubalcalif9100]

I heartily concur.

[@Iconhulk]

Huh...? Mr. Sunshine On My G.D. shoulders John Demver he's a disgrace...

[@da324]

They were friends, get over yourself!

[@OLYMPIAN_ZEUS]

Super Troopers sent me here!

[@Kevin-xv9pm]

WHAT?! I did not see that coming.

[@williamwalsh1533]

I'm just surprised he didn't say "this award should go to Beyonce!"

[@RETROTV1394]

Ha. I remember that. Sure confused the heck out of me. I just think some of country musics establishment just couldn't accept John Denver as real country and I can't understand why. I've followed Denvers music and thought it was country. Actually his music is way more country sounding than any of that trash that's on the radio nowadays. I really put Rocky Mountain High and The iconic Take Me Home Country Roads as my two favorites.

[@davidcassidy3956]

Because John Denver was not Nashville based. People like Charlie Rich in Nashville hated John Denver and Olivia Newton-John.

[@edwardcoss6574]

@@davidcassidy3956 Olivia Newton John and John Denver were great singers... great POP singers. Just cause you sing , "yahoo, I'm a country boy !" : It doesn't qualify as a country song. It was a pop song and the country artists resented the record industry for it.

[@davidcassidy3956]

@@edwardcoss6574 So narrow southern minded right? People like Charlie Rich thought John Denver took their money from their pocket. I think Kenny Rogers was a great pop singer, not a country artist. Why Kenny? Southern something.

[@edwardcoss6574]

@@davidcassidy3956 Wasn't about the money so much as the Pop direction the music executives were taking country music. The country artists themselves had no control of their own music until the following year when Jennings, Nelson, Colter and Tompall Glaser put out country music's first platinum selling album Wanted: The Outlaws. Which started the sub country genre : outlaw country. Which became as cool as southern rock which we teens were listening too at the time. But, to be fair we always had a country pop element also. Kenny Rodgers, Glen Campell, later Juice Newton followed by Shania . A better comparison to Newton John and Denver would be Taylor Swift. Initially, she was considered country pop but shortly after that , definitely pop. As were Denver and Newton John all along

[@edwardcoss6574]

The outlaw country had more of a rock n blues element which is what you mostly hear on county stations today

[@grega1972]

The ultimate act of throwing shade !!!!

[@blackbird5605]

More than Kanye West throwing shade at Taylor Swift?

[@onebadpenny2138]

If you’re talking about country artists saving country music by bringing newer acts, how about Linda Ronstadt, some of the Eagles’ earlier music, the Allman Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Marshall Tucker and several other southern rock groups. By adding their names and reputations to the music, it made country music more acceptable to a whole bunch of teenagers that would never have admitted to listening to country music otherwise. I was one! Growing up outside of Nashville, I still was in a large group of people raised on country music that hated it. But with Linda and some of the others, it made some of that music tolerable for us.

[@crushedscouter9522]

He was pulling out the lighter before he even read the name. This means one of two things; he already knew whose name was on that card or he was burning it as a joke/in protest of himself not being nominated, not in protest of Mr. Sunshine on my God damn shoulders John Denver.

[@valerievaughan6201]

You can’t tell just by the way he was opening the envelope he knew it was John Denver.

[@Panda-hg8sb]

Sad thing is that we have to put labels on music, so that awards can be won or lost. Meh. We could just listen to what we like and enjoy.

[@awesomewelles9174]

The book "100 Best Selling albums of the 70s" inspired me to look this up on KZbin.

[@chadmears136]

Best thing to ever happen in Country Music Period. RIP Silver Fox. A Real Country Artist.

[@FredConaway-rv9fb]

I remember seeing this that night. I was flabbergastic to say the least.

[@huntersunday9028]

Didn't even know Charlie riches name before seeing this clip, the irony of this video now is so funny

[@claralazen1530]

literally same

[@RobertMartin-bo2fr]

Country Music is simply NOT the same, now that the newer generations have gotten sober.

[@captainshartmark]

I've been trying to find this for a long time. Farva brought me here.

[@hamletsmill258]

So?

[@VDAM1984]

You know why most of us are here lol

[@jasonpate7900]

Mr. "Sunshine on my Goddamn Shoulder" John Denver.

[@lastdaysguitar]

Charlie had some great songs, but what he did to the great John Denver at the Country Music Awards was pathetic.

[@jonathandevereaux298]

Fat guys with avatars playing a guitar in front of ones of people are pathetic. Charlie Rich is a legend.

[@jeremycortes6559]

Farva, thank you.

[@dluxx6197]

“No Clue What Happened” seem cued on point

[@blytelyfe]

"This Day In History" brought me here😂

[@apt13podcast74]

When my suspensions up- you better watch your ass!

[@BBQFanNo1]

With that stunt didn't hear or see much of Charlie Rich except in Clint Eastwood's Film Soundtrack.

[@johnhealy8076]

Southern boy but sounds like Art Carney here. Not to mention he kinda looks like him here too lol

[@tylercrouch3620]

Im saying when my suspensions up, you better watch your ass!

[@MichaelC_22]

Or you'll light my ass on fire?!

[@kirbysnortfarts9819]

Funny. I can't recall a single song Charlie Rich performed. But I know every John Denver song by heart.

[@da324]

You don't know much music.

[@ludwigfan3013]

This is like the country version of Biggie & Tupac

[@johngalt8279]

Instead of East Coast vs West Coast, it's like Tennessee vs Colorado.

[@retrosun1845]

So fuckin whst if he was drunk people love this shit anyway

[@diegojon8267]

And just how many records did Charlie sell?

[@eivindgjengstjohansen9625]

He had 2 #1 hits on the BB hot 100 country musicians rarely had a #1 hit in the BB hot 100...

[@royalzavala8545]

The other nominees were Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap and Conway Twitty

[@jonlarkster]

i remember this - i thought they immediately cut to an ad and then when they came back denver was alone at the podium accepting his award

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

I don't think Denver was there he accepted via the tv from another area.

[@GregoriousGregori9]

John Accepted alone, but from on location from where he was performing that night

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

@@GregoriousGregori9 "far out"

[@GregoriousGregori9]

@@anthonyfoutch3152 literally

[@jayjarnold]

Actually, when John Denver finished his speech (via satellite), a dazed Glen Campbell (standing alongside an equally-stunned Charley Pride) went to a quick commercial break. I wonder if Charlie Rich did anything more off-camera during the Denver speech?

[@tuzktanarzian5582]

Who came from SuperTroopers?!?!?

[@Donah]

...Imma let you finish ...

[@anthonyfoutch3152]

"far out"

[@davidtremblay2162]

When I think of country music talent and people ask me my favorite country singer, without hesitation, I say "JOHN DENVER!" Charlie Rich? Who is that? Ha Ha...obviously, i know but I am most impressed with John Denver back then, and evenm now until this very day. What a Talent wrapped up in that man from the mountains!!!

[@weshunter_musicman]

He was a great humanitarian and person

[@jaymiller126]

You can’t be serious..

[@weshunter_musicman]

@@jaymiller126 go away

[@turnerway14]

Wuss bag

[@crushedscouter9522]

Lol this entire comment is a lie

[@Lucky_Male_Bee]

I don't think this was in protest to Mr Sunshine on my Goddamn Shoulders John Denver. It was more a wonderful cocktail of Painkillers & Alcohol decision. Lol

[@travelingman5146]

Am I the only one that expected Denver to pull off his Hair like it was 1 piece?

[@jod6cindy]

What a nasty and asinine thing to do to someone.

[@tshouse2782]

He didn't spit on him

[@jod6cindy]

The gesture was ignorant and classless.

[@tshouse2782]

@@jod6cindy it was suggested that John Denver used to burn draft cards and he was making fun of that, and innocent joke

[@jod6cindy]

​​@@tshouse2782Oh, I see. I didn't know that. I retract my comments. Thanks.

[@paulineh4019]

Grasping at straws. John Denver did not burn draft cards.

[@alanprice4669]

Country music was going through a major shift around that time, just as it did during the early 90s. Some just didn't like the change, or singers who bridged folk and country music, like John Denver (another one was Gordon Lightfoot). But we know what happened to both Rich and Denver.

[@averydaymond1560]

There’s so much to talk about here. The irony and I mean this so much is todays country music could use a John Denver. I mean it’s so awful by any standards that if Charlie Rich were here he’d very likely say Denver was heads above the crap today. Then there’s the fact that you could easily argue that Rich himself had songs that didn’t fit traditional country and could suggest were “pop” music like did you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world and lonely weekends. Rich regretted doing this so at least that’s something.

[@ncsjumper]

Mr. Sunshine on My Goddamn Shoulders JOHN DENVER!

[@TheGreatSilas]

Who's here after watching Super Troopers? lol

[@NotableSavage2]

Barbara Mandrell, Olivia Newton-John, John Denver…Then they shunned Sturgill Simpson. I guess they learned their lesson when he showed up at the awards show and busked for hours out front bc they didn’t say shit to Jelly Roll.

[@Kohntarkosz]

Yeah, well, it's not like Charlie Rich was putting out his share of "pop" records.

[@TravelinBand747]

Correct, Charlie Rich had half a dozen songs go pop Top 40, including one that went #1. Glen Campbell was also hitting big on the pop charts around this time too, a few years before the Urban Cowboy era would really take off.

[@stevenbrennon9284]

if Charlie Rich was alive today what would he do think about country music today? how would he feel like giving a award to Sam Hunt? of course no disrespect to Sam Hunt or any of today's country music I heard Sam Hunt s latest song and it sounds really good sounded to me like it was a little more countrier than the other songs he has put out take care.

[@WillyG2023]

Charlie Rich is a legend. This may not be his finest moment but "Behind Closed Doors" is one of the finest country records ever produced.

[@rocingersol5060]

Super Troopers is a great movie.

[@ashleyyyy314]

Whose here bc of officer farva?

[@shayjenkins6641]

Mr Sunshine on my GD shoulders John Denver 🤣

[@tshouse2782]

How was this viewed as offensive? He even said my friend

[@MrRazorblade999]

They were easily offended back then.

[@jaylynch3419]

Farva sent me here

[@williamwalsh1533]

Anyone out there confuse John Denver with Bob Denver?

[@Not_Built_For_This_World]

Award shows today need more of this and less partisan grandstanding!

[@theadventuresofmarley3145]

Farva was here

[@LTurbide]

His son Charlie, Jr., says on his website: I'll tell you why I thought he did it. #1 He thought it would be funny. He set it up by talking about how the potential winners were probably nervous, as he had been the previous year. #2 Bad judgement. He had recently broken his foot in a freak accident at his home in Memphis. ... So...Due to the pain, he took pain medication the night of the show: Bad idea! Secondly, he and another country star got to drinking gin and tonics while waiting in the dressing room. The show was long, so by the time Dad was supposed to go on, the drinks on top of the medication got him buzzed. ... Primarily he thought it would be funny. I know the last thing my father would have wanted to do was set himself up as judge of another musician. He felt badly that people thought it was a statement against John Denver.

[@tomflorio7363]

#1, #2, and Secondly 😄 Love it

[@tshouse2782]

It looked like a joke to me

[@TonyVortex-sg1tf]

Super troopers taught me

[@kirbysnortfarts9819]

There was a time when drums were considered NOT "country" music. Now days, the only difference between Country and Rock is a funny accent.

[@billday6744]

I was watching this that night I heard Chet Atkins say at of his concerts that Charlie was drunk Chet was to close the awards show and wasnt sure they would time his part in Chets words not mine he was back stage watching .

[@Bayareaglobz]

What song did he write to win that award

[@ronniebishop2496]

Entertainer of the year,!!

[@tonyd4535]

Country roads im amusing

[@franktatom1837]

Note: Charlie Rich was a very talented jazz pianist in Memphis long before Sam Phillips persuaded him to cut some songs for Sun. Charlie had no investment in whatever "country " music was at the time this show was broadcast. No doubt he was impaired, as was his sense of humor, but whatever his motive, I doubt it had anything to do with objecting to Denver as not being "country" music.

[@rhondaberg5644]

Love You John!!!! ❤🎼❤

[@Heavy_Distortion]

Charlie Rich was keeping the flame alive. Long live John Denver.

[@Slick420Pgh]

I have no clue who this charlie rich is but that is the most gangster moment in country music history

[@door1852]

Yeah me to

[@artworldgallery4290]

the most outrageous, most shameful act ever did by supposedly gentleman of country music. Jealosy is indeed a dreaded disease especially of a man of Charlie Rich's stature.

[@poorthing]

First I have to say: What? WHAT! You don't know Charlie Rich? *Behind closed doors *The most beautiful girl in the world *I love my friend *My elusive dream

[@bpdietzel84]

It’s snowflake behavior if you ask me

[@poorthing]

@@bpdietzel84 that's how you describe snowflake behavior?

[@patriciadault8983]

John Denver's music was and still timeless, what a legacy to be singing along making memories and smiling with friends, family or you're loved one...Charlie Rich who? John Denver was number one!❤

[@edwardcoss6574]

Charlie thought Waylon Jennings should have won country music entertainer of the year. Denver was regarded by the country artists themselves as a Pop singer not a accepted by them as a country singer. Same with Olivia Newton John the year before. The country artists thought Loretta Lynn should have won female vocalist of the year.

[@johnjamesduffy7653]

It was a big thing at the time. Loretta & Dolly stood up for Olivia.

[@MrRacket991]

Too much has been made of this. John Denver and Charlie Rich were both GREAT artists. Charlie was just pulling a little prank after enjoying himself backstage.

[@williamwalsh1533]

What y'all think about Luke Combs? I was in Uptown Charlotte last summer and the streets were packed with the prettiest country girls because he was performing. Does Combs have the prettiest fan base or is there another country singer that has even more pretty fans?

[@TomDuff-hq9hd]

He was the best Folk musician that ever was .See there are those that are strict Southern ,and if you're not from the South forget it. I can picture Hank Jr. touring the East Coast lol never would happen .

[@johnjamesduffy7653]

He was one of the old guard that gave Olivia Newton-John (who had won the many CMA awards the year before) a hard time when she began having her early hits because she wasn't from Nashville although he was quick enough to get her as his opening act the first chance he got. Hypocrite.

[@garyduncil9160]

The end of Charlie Career in less than 15 seconds

[@astraluna6is9]

And that’s what Chuck wanted any way.

[@user-xn7uu9jt9q]

John Denver was too good to attend.... Therefore, that is why Mr Rich pulled that Prank.

[@JasonNation72]

Charlie Rich's career took a big hit because of this moment. In fact, he was blacklisted from all the award shows for the remaining 20 years he was alive.

[@MrRazorblade999]

They were just as much easily offended Karens back then

[@alyoni5132]

Meow, meow, meow!!

[@dirkdiggler7418]

Look at that beautiful mane of pure white hair

[@DixieTheCat714]

Nice wax job rook