John Denver Died 29 Years Ago Today, And “Take Me Home, Country Roads” Became America’s World Cup Anthem

John Denver died 29 years ago on October 12, 1997, when the small experimental plane he was piloting crashed into Monterey Bay, California. He was just 53 years old. An experienced pilot with a lifelong love of flying, Denver had recently purchased the aircraft when tragedy struck. His sudden death shocked fans who had grown up listening to his heartfelt songs about love, home, and the natural world. By then, he had become one of the defining voices of the 1970s, with an unmistakable sound that earned him millions of devoted listeners.

Nearly three decades later, his music continues to bring people together in unexpected ways. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Denver’s 1971 classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads” became an unofficial anthem for the United States men’s national team, with players and thousands of fans joining in stadium-wide singalongs. The song had long been associated with West Virginia, but this summer it found a new home on soccer fields, introducing another generation to the singer whose voice has remained familiar long after his death.

How John Denver Became The Sound Of The World Cup

“Take Me Home, Country Roads” turned into the unofficial American anthem of the 2026 World Cup, according to Upworthy. The U.S. men’s team played it during warmups and after goals.

Fans took it from there. They sang it after wins over Paraguay and Australia. They sang it after a loss to Turkey too.

“All of us know that part of being American is knowing ‘Country Roads,'” defender Chris Richards said.

The song is 55 years old. Denver recorded it in New York in January 1971 with co-writers Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert, who had first hoped to sell it to Johnny Cash. It climbed to No. 2 that August.

Upworthy notes a charming detail. None of the three had set foot in West Virginia when the song was written.

The Life Behind The Songs

He was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. on December 31, 1943, in Roswell, New Mexico. The 1970s made him one of the best-loved singers in America.

“Rocky Mountain High” and “Annie’s Song” followed “Country Roads” onto the radio. He earned 12 gold albums and four platinum ones. In 1977 he held his own beside George Burns in the comedy Oh, God!

Two states have made his music official. Colorado adopted “Rocky Mountain High” as a state song in 2007, and West Virginia did the same with “Country Roads” in 2014.

He gave his time to causes as well. Denver co-founded The Hunger Project in 1977 and received a public service medal from NASA in 1985.

He was a father of three, and Do You Remember has shared where his children are today.

In 2023 the Library of Congress added “Country Roads” to the National Recording Registry. The crowds this summer had already cast their own vote, one chorus at a time.