Whether you’re familiar with “Rocky Mountain High” or interested in a little inside scoop about a celeb child, you’ve come to the right place. During his first marriage, the famed John Denver adopted Anna.
Anna’s life was kept under wraps for most of her childhood, thanks to her parents. She enjoyed a peaceful life around the scenic Aspen, Colorado, with her two siblings.
Stick around to learn more about Denver’s early life, family background, marital life, career, and children.
About
Anna Kate Denver, also known as Anna Kate Deutschendorf, is the late musician, humanitarian, and activist John Denver’s adopted daughter.
She was born in 1976 and joined the Denver family the same year as a newborn. Despite her father’s fame, Denver was rarely put in the spotlight and lived a private life.
Early Life
The Denver daughter was raised in Aspen, Colorado, with two of her siblings, Zachary and Jesse Belle. Zachary was the older of the three and was also adopted. The Denver household brought him in as a newborn in 1974.
At the time, John Denver was under the impression that he was sterile and couldn’t have children. But, in 1989, the “Take Me Home, Country Roads” singer gave birth to his only biological child, Jesse Belle, with his second wife, Cassandra Delaney.
Aside from that, Anna lived a quiet early life among the scenic mountains of Aspen, Colorado, which inspired her father’s musical endeavors as a country artist.
It was clear that John held a close relationship with his children, saying “How did we ever live without those little children?”
Family Background
Anna lived with her parents and two other siblings after getting adopted by a local adoption agency. Her fame came from her father’s nationwide prominence as a 70s country singer and songwriter.
Her mom, Annie Martell, is a singer, which was how she met her now ex-husband, philanthropist, and activist. She was Denver’s first wife. He even made a ballad for her and called it “Annie’s Song.”
Aside from that, the married couple was one of the first celebrities to speak out about environmental issues like pollution and deforestation.
Despite divorcing in 1982, Martell and Denver remained on friendly terms. Some circulating speculations alleged that the divorce wasn’t peaceful.
The settlement laid out serious spousal abuse allegations against Denver, saying that he choked Annie and sawed their marital bed in half at one point. Nonetheless, the divorce’s main culprit was attributed to John’s rising fame in the music industry.
Afterward, the singer married Cassandra Delaney in 1988 but later divorced in 1993. Denver was then involved in a fatal aviation crash landing in Lover’s Point, Pacific Grove, in 1997 due to low gas.
Siblings
While Anna cherished her parents, she was particularly close with her siblings, particularly Zachary. In the early 2000s, he was involved in politics and joined the United Party of America. Meanwhile, the youngest of the bunch, Jesse Belle, took a different trajectory, enjoying a career in painting and crafting crystal jewelry.
Education
While not much is known about which high school Denver attended, we do know that she enrolled in the prestigious Dartmouth College class of 1999.
During her university years, Denver participated in rowing. She was given an award for the Season of 1979 Women’s Cup thanks to her dedication in 1999.
Marital Life
News outlets found out that the oldest Denver daughter had gotten married from the 2003 Dartmouth College fall newsletter.
She married Jaimie Hutter, a fellow Dartmouth alumnus. He was in the class three years ahead of Denver’s. Hutter specialized in finance, working in locations like New York and San Francisco.
The couple married in Anna’s childhood home in Aspen in a picturesque ceremony overlooking the Rocky Mountains. Hutter and Denver then spent their honeymoon in New Zealand.
Where Is Anna Kate Denver Now?
The honeymoon in New Zealand seemed to have touched a chord with the newlyweds because, by 2005, Hutter and Denver packed their bags and moved to Wanaka.
According to their college’s 2005 summer newsletter, the couple now runs a cozy bed and breakfast.
Does Anna Kate Denver Have Children?
Denver does have a child with Hutter. The couple welcomed Daisy Eloise Hutter on the 11th of December in 2011.
Cherishing the Legacy
Aside from running her bed and breakfast, Anna has also showcased her tribute to her late celebrity father.
In a hall of fame celebration of the folk singer, the now Hutter commented, “My dad’s legacy, his work, and his music, has always spoken well for itself.” She continued, “My dad had all the best fans in the world, and he still does.”
Following in her parents’ activist footsteps, Denver gathered swimmers to stand against the strict regulations posed by regulations in Lake Wanaka. Officials are imposing fines reaching $500 for failing to wear fluorescent swim caps.
IRS Dispute
After their father’s death, Anne and Zachary, as heirs, were entitled to a federal tax refund worth $594,674. Nonetheless, the U.S. tax Court records show that the IRS requested a tax payback totaling a whopping $1.5 million.
The IRS asked for this amount because John Denver’s estate, valued at $19 million, was understated by a $2.5 million chunk. The Denver heirs argued with the IRS over this overstatement.
The IRS later revealed that the property owed $7.44 million in taxes rather than $8.03 million.
Final Thoughts
Unlike today’s blinding spotlight on child celebrities, Anna Denver offers a refreshing take. Living with a famous father hasn’t stopped the Denver daughter from leading a private life away from the paparazzi.
While she may not have fallen in her parents’ musical footsteps, Denver and her husband have a similar philanthropic mindset. She is now enjoying a tranquil life with her family in New Zealand.
