- Announced the 1975 CMA Entertainer of the Year winner, who ended up being John Denver; in protest, Rich burned the envelope. The incident was broadcast live before a national audience.
- Country singer, songwriter and pianist, who frequently combined elements of rock, rockabilly and pop into his music.
- Had back-to-back million-selling singles in 1973, "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl"; both were multi-week No. 1 hits on Billboard magazine's country singles chart (the latter also a multi-week No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit).
- Other major hits included "There Won't Be Anymore," "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore," "I Love My Friend" and "She Called Me Baby" (all 1974 and all No. 1 country hits); "My Elusive Dreams" and "Every Time You Touch Me I Get High" (1975); "Rollin' With the Flow" (1977); and "On My Knees" (1978, a No. 1 duet with Janie Fricke).
- Named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year in 1974.
- Recorded with legendary Nashville guitarist Hank Garland.
- A number of his 1974-1975 hits, including several mentioned above, were re-releases of Rich's mid-1960s recordings at RCA and Mercury records.
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