1969 Folk Ballad, Written During an Airport Layover, Became a Nostalgic No. 1 Classic
Before John Denver became known as a country and folk music legend, his first hit was originally given as a Christmas gift. The then-unknown songwriter released a track in 1969 inspired by love, which became a breakthrough hit on the charts.
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" was first written years before its released in 1966. Denver was only 23 years old and wasn't well known in the music scene yet. He wrote the track not intending for it to be a hit or become something more, and included it on a demo titled John Denver Sings.
The track caught the interest of Denver's longtime producer, Milton Okun, who felt it needed a title change. It was changed from its original title, "Babe I Hate to Go", to "Leaving on a Jet Plane." Denver has spoken fondly of the track being "very special" to him, and wrote it during a layover at Washington National Airport.
"This is a very personal and very special song for me. It doesn't conjure up Boeing 707s or 747s for me as much as it does the simple scenes of leaving. Bags packed and standing by the front door, taxi pulling up in the early morning hours, the sound of a door closing behind you, and the thought of leaving someone that you care for very much," said Denver to BBC Radio.
"I was fortunate to have Peter, Paul and Mary record it and have it become a hit, but it still strikes a lonely and anguished chord in me, because the separation still continues, although not so long and not so often nowadays."
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" soon landed on the charts, but not Denver's version. The song was covered and released that same year by folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. At the time, Denver had just split from the Chad Mitchell Trio and was close friends with the folk group, as they shared the same producer.
Peter, Paul and Mary version of the track landed them at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent three weeks on top of the easy listening chart. The track even became a staple for United Airlines commercials in the early 1970s. While the song got its fame thanks to the folk group, Denver also relished in the spotlight for being its songwriter. He became more well-known in the music scene, got TV appearances, and launched his future career.
Denver would re-record the track for his own debut studio album that same year. Despite its popularity, his version failed to chart.
Related: 1974 Rock Ballad, Inspired by an Unconventional Love Story, Became a Soft Rock Anthem
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This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 7:50 AM.