John Rich is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar, co-writing his inaugural #1 hit song called "Come Cryin'To Me" and sharing lead vocal duties with Richie McDonald. Departing from Lonestar in 1998, he ventured into a solo career under BNA Records in the late 1990s, where he released two singles and recorded "Underneath the Same Moon", which was delayed until 2006. In 2001, he singlehandedly released "Rescue Me", an album inspired by a cancer patient named Katie Darnell. By 2003, he teamed up with Big Kenny to establish the duo Big & Rich, achieving success with three albums under Warner Bros. Records as well as ten singles, notably chart topper "Lost in This Moment". After Big & Rich went on hiatus in 2007, Rich began work on a third solo album, "Son of a Preacher Man", yielding two more chart singles including the Top Ten hit songs "Shutting Detroit Down." In 2011, he released two extended plays, "Rich Rocks" and "For the Kids", before re-vitalizing Big & Rich in 2012. They launched "Big and Rich Records" in 2014, experiencing considerable success with big hits like "Look At You", "Loving Lately", and "Run Away With You."
Rich performing in 2019
Rich in 2010
Lonestar is an American country music group from Texas. The group consists of Drew Womack, Michael Britt, Dean Sams, and Keech Rainwater (drums). Britt, Sams, and Rainwater co-founded the band in 1992 with original lead vocalist Richie McDonald and bass guitarist/vocalist John Rich. Rich exited the band in 1998 and went on to join Big Kenny as one-half of the duo Big & Rich. Since his departure, Lonestar has relied alternatingly on session and touring musicians for bass guitar accompaniment. McDonald exited the band in 2007 to record as a solo artist, and was replaced by former McAlyster vocalist Cody Collins before returning in 2011. McDonald left a second time in 2021 to join The Frontmen, with former Sons of the Desert lead vocalist Drew Womack replacing him.
Lonestar at Fleet Recreation Park in Norfolk, Virginia in 2005. (L–R: Michael Britt, Richie McDonald, Dean Sams, Keech Rainwater)
John Rich was Lonestar's bassist and occasional lead vocalist until 1998.
Lead vocalist Richie McDonald, pictured here in 2007, left the group between 2007 and 2011 for a solo career. He exited again in 2021 to perform with the Frontmen of Country.
Lonestar performing in 2007 with Cody Collins (second from left)