Born in Amarillo, TX, singer/songwriter John Rich had his first taste of success in Nashville as the lead singer for Lonestar. He left the band amid some turmoil after the release of its second album, and headed into the studio to make a record of his own. The resulting Underneath the Same Moon, which featured collaborations with Sara Evans, the Fairfield Four, and Delbert McClinton, as well as his future songwriting partner from Big & Rich, Kenny Alphin (Big Kenny), was finished and shelved in 1998. Rich's success with Alphin renewed interest in his solo album, prompting BNA Records to officially release Underneath the Same Moon in March of 2006.