Big & Rich, the renowned American country music duo, is a dynamic collaboration between Big Kenny and John Rich.
Both artists excel as songwriters, vocalists, and guitarists. Before forming this duo, John Rich contributed his bass guitar skills to the country band Lonestar, while Big Kenny pursued a solo career under Hollywood Records.
Their inaugural studio album, “Horse of a Different Color,” made its debut in 2004. This remarkable release spawned four consecutive Top 40 country hits, including the impressive track “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” which reached the 11th position on the charts. Additionally, the album featured notable collaborations with Cowboy Troy, Gretchen Wilson, and Martina McBride.
In November 2005, “Comin’ to Your City” followed, accompanied by another Top 20 single, the Vietnam War-inspired “8th of November,” as well as two more Top 40 hits. This album also boasted collaborations with Cowboy Troy, Wilson, and the legendary Kris Kristofferson.
Their third album, “Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace,” released in 2007, gave birth to their sole No. 1 single, “Lost in This Moment.” Rich, during the duo’s hiatus, continued his journey as a prolific producer and songwriter for several other artists.
Following this album, both members embarked on solo ventures in 2009—Big Kenny with “The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy” and Rich with “Son of a Preacher Man.” These solo endeavors earned the duo their first Top 40 solo entries, with Big Kenny’s “Long After I’m Gone” and Rich’s “Shuttin’ Detroit Down.” In 2010, Big Kenny unveiled his second solo country album, “Big Kenny’s Love Everybody Traveling Musical Medicine Show Mix Tape, Vol. 1,” while in 2011, Rich released the extended plays “For the Kids” and “Rich Rocks.” The latter included the Top 40 country single “Country Done Come to Town.”
In a much-anticipated reunion, Big & Rich regrouped in May 2011 to release “Fake ID,” a featured track on the soundtrack of the 2011 film “Footloose.” A year later, their fourth album, “Hillbilly Jedi,” emerged, delivering the Top 20 hit “That’s Why I Pray.” In July 2013, John Rich announced the commencement of their work on the fifth studio album, “Gravity,” which was eventually released independently. Another independent album, “Did it For the Party,” was announced in 2017, with a September release date, led by the single “California.”