Denver was riding high on the 1974 hit Thank God I’m A Country Boy and remains best known for crossover hits like Annie’s Song and Take Me Home Country Roads. However, his win exposed the major divisions appearing in the country music industry.
Waylon Jennings won Best Male Vocalist that year, but spoke scathingly about the politics and wheeler-dealing behind the scenes having too much influence over who won what. But one thing that night did entertain him: “I was happier watching Charlie Rich get drunk and burn up the Entertainer of the Year award, holding a cigarette lighter to the envelope, please.
“They went to grab him, but when Charlie was drunk, it was best to stay out of his way…”
He added, sarcastically: “Oh, yeah. John Denver won Entertainer of the Year. Now that’s what I call country.”
Published at Fri, 11 Mar 2022 21:21:59 +0000
John Denver: Why Charlie Rich set fire to Denver’s biggest award
