Country Pop Bites: Big Kenny Alphin – December 31

Did you know that on this day in Country Music History in 2002 Big Kenny, already $140,000 in debt, lost most of his last $200 playing black jack in a Las Vegas casino?

It's true! He gave the dealer a $20 tip, leaving himself with just one buck. The event inspired him to write a future Tim McGraw hit, "Last Dollar (Fly Away)".

Check out this Big & Rich video!

Here are 5 little known truths about Big Kenny Alphin.

• William Kenneth Alphin was born November 1, 1963.
• Before Big & Rich, Big Kenny was signed to Hollywood Records in 1999 and recorded the album Live a Little for the label. The album's release was delayed repeatedly, and was ultimately canceled, with Hollywood Records retaining control of the songs for five years and ultimately releasing it in 2005. One of its songs, "Under the Sun", was featured in the soundtrack to the 2001 film Gun Shy.
• After departing the label, he founded the band luvjOi, which included Adam Shoenfeld (guitar), Larry Babb (drums) and Justin Tocket (bass guitar). Although luvjOi had a degree of local success, including the single "Discoball" and two albums, the band eventually broke up.
• He went on hiatus in 2008, as he had to rehabilitate a neck injury that occurred when he was hit by a drunk driver in 2001.
• On January 23, 2005, he married Christiev Carothers. She has two sons from a previous marriage: Christopher Carothers, Cameron Carothers, and together they have one son, Lincoln William Holiday Alphin, born on November 2, 2005. On September 17, 2010, Big Kenny and Christiev announced they had adopted a second son, Dakota Jefferson Holiday Alphin, in July 2010.