1997–98: Crazy Nights and departure of John Rich Lonestar

john rich lonestar s bassist , occasional lead vocalist until 1998.

lonestar s sixth chart single come cryin me , rich , wilson co-wrote no news co-writer mark d. sanders. song became band s second no. 1 single in august 1997, 2 months after release of corresponding album, crazy nights. lonestar, produced wilson , cook. next single, walked in , written rock producer , songwriter robert john mutt lange. peaked @ number 12 on country charts , became band s first entry on billboard hot 100, peaking @ number 93. when , s changed followed it, respective peaks @ thirteen , 2 on country music charts in 1998. latter went number 95 on hot 100. boone , paul nelson co-wrote both of these songs, collaborating rich on former , mcdonald on latter. included on album cover of pure prairie league s amie . thom owens gave album mixed review, saying come cryin me , amie cover solid , criticizing rest slick , bland .

shortly after release of s changed , rich left band. late in 1998, keith harling charted coming , song rich co-wrote wilson. rich later charted 2 solo singles bna between 2000 , 2001, , recorded album label titled underneath same moon, although not released @ time. in 2003, rich began recording big kenny duo big & rich, in addition serving songwriter , producer other country artists.