logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2020
1 h

John Denver: A Folk Singer, a Sniper and...

Double Elvis Productions
About this episode

(This is a bonus April Fools’ episode of Disgraceland that is satire and not true crime.) John Denver was a one of the biggest stars of the Seventies. His easy listening mainstream folk and his squeaky clean, environmentally friendly image made him a favorite in homes all across America. But was John Denver hiding a dark secret? One born of a mysterious military upbringing? A secret he would do anything to protect? A secret he took to his early grave, but that may soon see the light of day depending on numerous Freedom of Information Act court challenges? 

To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.

This episode was originally published on April 1, 2020.

To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a monthly exclusive episode, weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.

Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTER

Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND:

Instagram

YouTube

X (formerly Twitter) 

Facebook Fan Group

TikTok

Check out Kikoff: https://getkikoff.com/DISGRACELAND

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Today
Willie Nelson (Pt 2): Grifters, Con Men, Thieves, and the Reinvention of the Outlaw
Willie Nelson left Nashville and reinvented himself in Austin, Texas as the ultimate outsider. It was a metamorphosis from freak flag flier to mainstream mainstay that is rife with tales of drug smuggling, arson, and international run-ins with Johnny Law. Not to mention a lifelon ... Show More
36m 51s
Aug 22
Willie Nelson (Pt 1): A Shootout, a House Fire, and the Ballad of the Red-Headed Stranger
Broke and depressed, Willie Nelson almost joined the 27 Club on a snowy Nashville street late one night – before he’d even sold a single song. He drank, smoked, and cheated his way through multiple marriages. He was nearly beaten to death by an angry husband in a parking lot. He ... Show More
38m 6s
Aug 21
Bonus Episode: 80s Metalheads, Life-changing Concerts, and Ozzy Osbourne
This week in the After Party, Jake looks into some of the rumors and conjecture surrounding the death of Ozzy Osbourne. Plus, we hear from you about your concert going experiences! On Tuesday, we're bringing our episode on Kendrick Lamar, and Jake wants to know: What artists have ... Show More
38m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
EP. 170: COLORADO - A Father’s Dark Secret: The Dylan Redwine Story
In 2012, teenager Dylan Redwine found something disturbing on his father's computer. Images that he would never be able to get out of his head. But unfortunately, Dylan's father wanted to keep those secrets a secret, and was willing to do anything to make sure that it stayed that ... Show More
1h 37m
Aug 2024
77: Terrifying True Urban Legends: Summertime Edition // Dark Summer Series
Lights of a ghost plane that illuminate a New Jersey forrest, the legend of a hermit who lives in the woods in Maine, and a woman found at the bottom of a lake in New York. These are three urban legends with some terrifying truths behind them TW: Suicide Check out our merch here: ... Show More
38m 47s
Dec 2021
Haunted: Bobby Mackey's Music World
Bobby Mackey's Music World is located in Wilder, Kentucky, and it has gained fame as one of the most haunted locations in the United States. We take a look at the ghosts, unexplained occurrences, and even take a peek at a well in the basement also known as the gateway to hell. Re ... Show More
22m 50s
Sep 2024
EP. 172 : MISSOURI - The KANSAS City Butcher: The Most Disturbing Serial Killer Story In American History (PT. 1)
In today's episode, we explore the disturbing story of Bob Berdella, "the Kansas City Butcher", who was responsible for the torture and murder of multiple men in the Kansas City area in the 1980's/1990's. This story is incredibly graphic and deeply disturbing, so listener discret ... Show More
1h 15m
Oct 2022
John Denver: Death of the Sunshine Boy
The utter sincerity of his songs ("Country Roads," "Rocky Mountain High") endeared John Denver to fans worldwide and helped make him one of the biggest stars of the 1970s. But the easy-mannered mountaineer with the dutch boy haircut and granny glasses was often dismissed as shall ... Show More
56m 14s
Apr 2025
115. Deathbed Confessions: Small Town Murder // I Am DB Cooper
A In 1957, a man approached a young girl in Illinois and asked if she wanted a piggyback. That was the last time she was seen alive And in 1971, a man known as "DB Cooper" hijacked a plane, stole $200,000, and disappeared without a trace. Both of these cases involved shocking con ... Show More
42m 28s
Apr 2025
Meet The Chicago Outfit's Most Infamous Hitman
Kurt Calabrese grew up in the Chicago mafia known as The Outfit. His father, Frank Calabrese Sr, was the premier hitman, known for strangling his victims with his bare hands. But Frank didn't just leave the violence at work. He trained his sons Kurt and Frank Jr in the mob enforc ... Show More
46m 8s
Apr 2025
Episode 615: The Montauk Project Part I - The Truth Behind The Truth Behind The Lies
This week the boys break out the tin foil hats and venture deep into the world of Conspiracy Theory with a tale that connects the dots between WWII, The Philadelphia Experiment, Deep Underground Military Bases, Alien Experimentation, Militarized Psychics, Time Travel, Nazi Gold.. ... Show More
1h 46m