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John Rich
Background information
Born	(1974-01-07) January 7, 1974 (age 38)
Origin	Amarillo, Texas, USA
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, record producer
Instruments	Vocals, bass guitar, rhythm guitar
Years active	1992–present
Labels	BNA, Warner Bros. Nashville, Reprise
Associated acts	Big & Rich, Lonestar, Black Label Society
Website	www.johnrich.com

John Rich (born January 7, 1974) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After being fired from the band in 1998, he embarked on a solo career on BNA Records in the late 1990s, releasing two singles for the label and recording Underneath the Same Moon, which was not released until 2006. By 2003, he joined Big Kenny to form the duo Big & Rich, who released three albums on Warner Bros. Records as well as ten singles, including the Number One "Lost in This Moment". After Big & Rich went on hiatus in 2007, Rich began work on a second solo album, Son of a Preacher Man, which has produced two more chart singles. In 2011, Rich released two Extended Plays, Rich Rocks and For the Kids before rejoining Big Kenny to release the single Fake I.D. In addition to his work in Big & Rich, John has co-written singles for multiple artists, including Faith Hill, Keith Anderson, Jason Aldean and Gretchen Wilson, as well as producing records for several other artists.

Music career[link]

Before Big & Rich[link]

John Rich graduated from Dickson County Senior High in Dickson, Tennessee and after graduation moved to Nashville where he worked at Opryland USA singing. He wanted to be a professional team roper though. Not long after he met up with the group Texasee, which eventually changed its name to Lonestar. While in Lonestar, Rich was the bass guitarist and, on some occasions, the lead singer (one of the band's singles, "Heartbroke Every Day," featured his lead vocals). Rich also co-wrote two of the band's singles: "Come Cryin' to Me" and "Say When", the former being a number-one single for the group. In January 1998, Rich was fired from Lonestar.^[1] Afterward, Rich became a solo artist with BNA Records, the same label to which Lonestar was signed. He charted two singles for the label, and recorded an album which did not see release until 2006.

In Big & Rich[link]

Rich in April 2010

Rich joined Big Kenny in 2002 to form the duo Big & Rich.^[2] The duo recorded three studio albums for Warner Bros. Records: Horse of a Different Color, Comin' to Your City and Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, in 2004, 2005 and 2007 respectively. These albums accounted for ten singles on the country charts, including the Number One "Lost in This Moment". Rich also co-wrote all of the duo's singles, primarily with Big Kenny. In the wake of Big & Rich's success, his 1999 solo album Underneath the Same Moon was issued via BNA, coinciding with the release of Big Kenny's previously-unreleased solo album Live a Little.

Work for other artists[link]

During Big & Rich's success, Rich also worked as a songwriter and producer for other artists. His work included production for Gretchen Wilson, Keith Anderson, Jewel and John Anderson. In the same time span, he co-wrote multiple singles for other artists, including the Number One hits "Redneck Woman" for Gretchen Wilson, "Mississippi Girl" for Faith Hill and "Why" for Jason Aldean.

In 2011 John Rich lent his voice to Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society on the song Darkest Days for Zakks "The Song Remains Not the Same" compilation.

[edit] Son of a Preacher Man

In January 2009, Rich released his third solo single on Warner Bros. Records. The song, "Another You", is the lead-off single to Rich's second studio album, Son of a Preacher Man, which was released on March 24, 2009. He followed this song up with another single, "Shuttin' Detroit Down", recorded only one week before its release in January 2009. Rich promoted the song, which addresses the Chrysler and General Motors bailouts, at Michigan radio stations.^[3] The song debuted at #34 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the chart week of February 14, 2009, becoming his first solo Top 40 hit and peaking at #12 in April. A third single, "The Good Lord and the Man", debuted at #59 on the country chart and peaked at #56 in July 2009.

[edit] Rich Rocks and For the Kids

Both Rich Rocks and For the Kids have only produced one single between them. Country Done Come to Town was released as a single from Rich Rocks in mid-2010 and was a minor chart success.

Television work[link]

In 2007, Rich hosted the first season of a reality show on Country Music Television called Gone Country, which featured celebrities such as Brady Bunch actress Maureen McCormick, singers Bobby Brown, Sisqo, Julio Iglesias Jr., Dee Snider, Carnie Wilson and American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo as they try to become songwriters with the help of Nashville songwriters as the celebrities are paired together with the songwriters. The show was filmed at the former home of Barbara Mandrell. He has hosted two more seasons since then.

Rich also served as a judge on the 2008 version of Nashville Star on NBC along with Jewel, singer-songwriter Jeffrey Steele, and host Billy Ray Cyrus.

Rich was a candidate in the 2011 season of The Celebrity Apprentice, which premiered on March 6. In episode 5, he lost as Project Manager for the men's team, Backbone. Despite the first loss, he later won 2 more tasks as Project Manager, raising $1,261,908 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Rich competed with Marlee Matlin in the live season finale, where he was declared the season winner, and received an additional $250,000 for his charity.

Personal life[link]

John Rich and his wife, Joan, married on December 6, 2008. They have two sons, Cash and Colt.

Political activism[link]

Rich originally supported Fred Thompson,^[4] in the 2008 presidential race. He later released a campaign song on his website in support of presidential candidate John McCain in August 2008 called "Raisin' McCain".^[5] He performed in the closing ceremony of the Republican National Convention on September 3, 2008. He endorsed the Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the special congressional election in Northern New York in 2009.^[6] In 2010 he endorsed Zach Wamp for Governor of Tennessee and hosted parties at his Nashville home for Congressman Wamp.^[7]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Extended plays[link]

Singles[link]

• ^A "I Pray for You" also peaked at number 63 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart.^[15]

Featured singles[link]

Videography[link]

Music videos[link]

Guest appearances[link]

References[link]

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