From Stories For Preachers: Everyone ...

Illustration from Stories for Preachers: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, though sometimes it hurts when they express it. In 1975 country singer Charlie Rich had been picked to announce the Country Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards show. The award went to John Denver, who had not experienced a warm reception at that point in the country music community. In fact, many people despised him and his style of country rock that was changing the direction of country music. When Charlie Rich opened the envelope, rather than announce John Denver’s name, Charlie took out a cigarette lighter, set fire to the paper bearing the winner’s name, and walked off stage.