Are You Gonna Set My CMA on Fire?! (STR)

The_Non

I was watching Supertroopers last nite. Did Charlie Rich really set his Country Music Award on fire becuz John Denver won it? I tried to find some youtubez with no luck.

DJFerrari

Want me to punch-a-size your face... for free?!

I don't know the answer to your question, but it's been a minute since I quoted Farva

twoply

From wikipedia:

All of this success led the CMA to name him Entertainer of the Year in 1974. Rich had three more top five hits in 1975, but even though he was at the peak of his popularity, Rich began to drink heavily, causing considerable problems off-stage. His destructive personal behavior famously culminated at the CMA awards ceremony for 1975, when he presented the award for Entertainer of the Year, while visibly intoxicated.[1] Instead of reading the name of the winner, who happened to be John Denver, he set fire to the envelope with a cigarette lighter, before announcing the award had gone to "My friend Mr. John Denver." Some considered it an act of rebellion against the Music Row-controlled Nashville Sound. But many speculated that Rich's behavior was a protest against the award going to Denver, whose music Rich had considered too "pop," and not enough "country."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Rich


His son attempts to clarify the incident (he says it was not a slam against Denver) here:

http://www.charlierichjr.com/controversy/the_envelope_burning/

The_Non

Thx mang!