After 16 remarkable years, Big & Rich, the dynamic duo composed of John Rich and Big Kenny, have announced they will no longer be the College GameDay theme song, “Comin’ To Your City.”
Leaving College GameDay
The duo took to social media on Thursday (Aug. 24) to share the news with fans and expressed that it has been an honor serving as the voices behind the iconic College GameDay opener.
“College GameDay, it’s been an honor. Time to officially pass the torch after 16 incredible years!” Big & Rich captioned the clip.
Time To Pass The Torch
In the video, John and Kenny are seated in director chairs revealing that after nearly two decades they are ready to hand over the reins to someone else.
“It’s been a great 16 years, being the voices of the College GameDay open,” Big Kenny said before John Rich adds, “And now we’re excited to officially pass the torch to these extremely talented artists.”
While they kept their artists taking their place under wraps, Big & Rich invited fans to tune into ESPN on September 2nd at 9 AM for the big reveal.
“We can’t say who just yet, but tune in to ESPN on Saturday, September 2nd at 9 AM to find out,” the duo concluded.
College GameDay
College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will return for its 37th season and 30th season on the road on September 2 at Romare Bearden Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will feature North Carolina Tar Heels facing off against the South Carolina Gamecocks for the Battle of the Carolinas.
“Comin’ to You City” is the title track of Big & Rich’s second studio album. The song was released to country radio in September of 2005 and climbed to No.21 on the U.S. radio charts. The version that appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay includes shout-outs to several college football teams, which does not appear in the original recording of the song.
Who Is Big & Rich?
Big & Rich burst onto the country music scene with the release of their first studio album, Horse of a Different Color. The project produced four consecutive Top 40 country hits. Among those were “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy),” which reached No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard Country chart. The song was written by Big Kenny and John Rich and was featured on ESPN in the ad spots for the 2004 World Series of Poker. The track was also included in the show Boston Legal during an episode dubbed “Death Be Not Proud.”
The duo’s debut album also includes the tracks “Holy Water,” “Wild West Show,” “and “Big Time.” Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy, and Martina McBride appear as special guests on the project.
Big & Rich’s latest studio album, Did It for the Party, arrived in 2017.
What Is John Rich And Big Kenny Working On?
The duo currently has two shows on the books, including a stop in Gethsemane, Kentucky on September 15 and Effingham, Illinois on October 13.
John Rich recently released a brand-new studio album, The Country Truth, which arrived on August 18. The project features 10 tracks, including his most-recent single “I’m Offended” as well as songs such as “Shut Up About Politics,” “Earth To God,” “Somethin’ For Nothin’,” and more.
Meanwhile, Big Kenny recently presented the ACM Lifting Lives Award to Country Thunder’s Troy Vollhoffer at the 16th Annual Academy of Country Music Honors, which took place on Wednesday, August 23 at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hosted by Carly Pearce, the 2023 ACM Honors will premiere on September 18 at 8/7c on FOX.
