John Denver: podcast appearances and interviews

Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., known professionally as John Denver, was an American country and folk singer, songwriter, and actor. He was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the 1970s and among the best-selling artists of that decade. Denver recorded approximately 300 songs, with about 200 written by himself, and released 33 albums and singles that achieved gold and platinum certification in the United States. His music, characterized by themes of nature, a disdain for city life, and personal relationships, appeared across various charts, including country, Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary. His notable songs include Take Me Home, Country Roads; Poems, Prayers & Promises; Annie's Song; Rocky Mountain High; Calypso; Thank God I'm a Country Boy; and Sunshine on My Shoulders. Denver also appeared in several films and television specials during the 1970s and 1980s, including starring in the 1977 film Oh, God! alongside George Burns. He hosted the pilot of the late-night television series The Midnight Special and continued to record into the 1990s while dedicating himself to environmental issues, supporting space exploration, and advocating for music censorship reform. Denver was deeply connected to Colorado, residing in Aspen for much of his life, and was named poet laureate of the state in 1974. His influence is reflected in the adoption of his songs as state symbols in Colorado and West Virginia. An avid pilot, Denver died in 1997 at the age of 53 in a single-fatality plane crash while piloting a recently purchased light aircraft.