John Denver: Mother Nature's Son

In the 1970s, John Denver was America's biggest-selling solo star, a singer whose cross-over appeal drew millions of fans from the diverse worlds of folk, pop, and country music. Beneath the tranquil surface of his music and his clear, clean tenor voice, however, lurked a darker side to Denver's character. The writer of "Annie's Song," a memorably tender expression of love, was a wife beater. The wholesome figure who cavorted with the Muppets was a troubled alcoholic. The committed environmentalist had an ultimately fatal addiction to aircraft, a highly polluting form of transport. Delving into the singer's past to discover who John Denver was, John Collis found a complicated man who was much more intriguing than the placid surface of his music might suggest. And, in looking at Denver's career and development as an artist, Collis assesses his contribution not only to the world of music, but to the culture of which he was an icon and a victim.