John Denver
episode 401

John Denver (1943-1997) was a popular American country and folk singer-songwriter, environmental activist, and actor during the 1970s.
His hits include "Annie's Song," "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," "I'm Sorry" (all #1s), "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take Me Home Country Roads." He also starred inCarl Reiner's 1977 comedyOh, God!, oppositeGeorge Burns inthe title role.
Denver worked with the Muppets many times: he appeared onThe Muppet Show inEpisode 401, made two Muppet television specials (John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together andRocky Mountain Holiday) and released two albums based on those specials, as well as other appearances.
Denver died in a light plane crash off the California coast on October 12, 1997.
Muppet-related Appearances[]
Picture | Date | Description |
---|---|---|
![]() | 1979 | Guest star onThe Muppet Showepisode 401. The episode was taped in April and first aired in September. |
![]() | 1979 | The albumA Christmas Together is recorded in June and released in October. |
![]() | 1979 | The television specialJohn Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together is taped in November and airs the following month. |
![]() | May 12, 1983 | Hosted television specialRocky Mountain Holiday and released a subsequentalbum of same title. |
![]() | 1980s | Appears in a public service announcement forNational Wildlife Federation withKermit. |
![]() | February 28, 1984 | Performed "Gone Fishin'" fromRocky Mountain Holiday withFloyd Pepper at theGrammy Awards show. |
![]() | November 1984 | Performed aconcert for Russian children at the American embassy inMoscow with Kermit. |
![]() | November 21, 1990 | Cameo appearance in TV specialThe Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson. |
References[]
- When Kermit waxes poetic about nature in the January 10, 1982Muppets comic strip, Robin thinks to himself, "If he starts singing “Rocky Mountain High” I'm gonna throw up..."
- A photo of Denver is used in theJanuary 1983 issue ofMuppet Magazine paired withScooter for "The Great Muppet Look-Alike Contest."
- John Crichton, having had his body taken over by an evil alien queen in theFarscape novelShip of Ghosts, plays Denver's "Country Roads" using a bagpipe within his mind in order to distract the queen. When the queen is rid from his mind, Crichton asksAeryn, "Want me to sing a particularly annoying John Denver tune to prove it to you?"