John Denver was one of the most famous musicians of the 1970s. He made hit country albums, had top-charting singles, and even starred in a popular variety show. Despite all this success, he won just one Grammy in his career—and it wasn’t for the work most fans remember him for.
A Look at John Denver’s Career
Denver was one of the biggest stars of his time, known for blending country music with mainstream appeal. Over his career, he sold more than 33 million albums, with 12 going gold and four earning platinum status.
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His music career began with the Mitchell Trio, but he later went solo. Denver got a big break when Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded his song “Leaving on a Jet Plane.” The track became their first and only No. 1 hit.
Denver’s music often focused on his love for nature, personal relationships, and a preference for simple living over fast-paced city life. Some of his most loved songs include “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Annie’s Song,” and “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.”
He didn’t stop at music. Denver hosted The John Denver Show and acted in movies like McCloud: The Colorado Cattle Caper and Fire and Ice. He also worked as an activist, speaking out about protecting the environment, standing up against music censorship, and showing support for space exploration.
Even with all his achievements, Denver won just one Grammy—and it wasn’t for one of his famous projects.
The Grammy-Winning Album Fans Often Forget
In 1997, Denver won his first and only Grammy for All Aboard! This album was full of songs about trains, featuring styles like swing, folk, bluegrass, gospel, and big band. Most of the tracks were covers.
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All Aboard! earned him a Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children. A year later, the Grammys honored him again by putting “Take Me Home, Country Roads” into their Hall of Fame.
The Tragic End to John Denver’s Life
Denver’s Grammy win came after his untimely death. In 1997, he was flying his homebuilt plane when it crashed into Monterey Bay, killing him.
Though Denver struggled with alcohol in the past, an autopsy confirmed he had no alcohol in his system at the time of the crash. Investigators found the accident happened because he couldn’t reach the fuel switch during the flight. The control was in an unusual spot, and while trying to switch tanks, he lost control of the plane.
His last concert was on October 5, 1997, in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the Selena Auditorium. A recording from that night shows him performing songs like “Boy From the Country” and “Amazon.”
