Imagine sitting on a cold ski lift in Aspen during the winter of 1973. A young man with round glasses feels a rush of love so strong that he writes a masterpiece in just ten minutes. That man was John Denver and the woman was his wife, Annie Martell Denver.
They were the golden couple of the seventies folk scene. But behind the bright smiles their lives were much more complicated.
Annie was far more than just a name in a song title. She was a school principal with her own life and a family history rooted in the famous Holiday House Supper Club in Minnesota. Many people only saw her through the lens of John’s fame.
Annie Denver Finally Confirms the Truth About John at 78
Folks who followed their journey have a lot to say about it today. One viewer mentioned that John was a beautiful soul but also a very tortured one who struggled while on the road. Another person shared sweet memories of Annie before she was a star’s wife.
The story did not end when the divorce papers were signed. Music has a way of keeping a memory alive long after the people in the story have grown older. While Annie moved forward with grace and strength. John continued to sing those same words to thousands of crying fans. He carried that emotional weight with him every time he stepped onto a stage.
John Denver – Annie’s Song (from The Wildlife Concert)
In a later performance, you can see a man who has lived through the fire and come out the other side. This version of the song feels deeper because he is no longer that young man on a ski lift. He is a man who knows what it means to lose the very thing he sang about.
John Denver mostly talked about what it means to be human and in love. His journey was not perfect, but his voice was a comfort to millions of people who felt lonely
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