Did you know that one of America’s most famous singers might also be one of its most underappreciated? Johnny Cash is a name everyone knows. He is in many Halls of Fame and won lots of awards. But some “serious” critics do not put him next to names like Bob Dylan. They thought his faith and patriotism made him uncool.
This split is even clear in movies. A new film shows Bob Dylan as watchful, while Cash is a star Dylan is figuring out how to pass. Cash returned to the country, while Dylan became the “voice of a generation,” winning a Nobel Prize. Cash became a figure people knew, but not one they always listened to. Even with his “American Recordings” comeback and the “Walk the Line” movie, his songwriting never got the respect it deserved.
Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line (The Best Of The Johnny Cash TV Show)
Many fans were not happy with this idea at all. They felt it was just wrong. One writer joked that his “eyeballs rotated” in protest. Another comment said the idea was silly, stating that Cash “makes Bob Dylan look like Carrot Top”. For his fans, there is no question: Johnny Cash was, and always will be, the king.
All that talk from critics never seemed to change the man himself. He knew what mattered. In his final interview, Johnny Cash shared some words of wisdom. He talked about not letting other people tell you what you should do. He knew his path came from deep inside his heart, not from what others told him.
Johnny Cash gives words of wisdom in final interview (2003)
He said you can listen to people, or you can just turn your back. He was very clear. He would never let anyone make him think he was wrong for singing his songs. He sang about “death, hell, and drugs” because that was his truth. He always did, and he said he always will.
That was Johnny Cash. He was honest, strong, and always himself, whether it was popular or not. His journey was about singing the truth as he saw it. He gave a voice to people who felt left out. Follow Johnny Cash on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. His story is one that will always be worth hearing.