Flashback: Johnny Cash's Last Public Performance

Jul 06, 2020 by apost team

Known as the Man in Black, Jonny Cash was an American icon and well-beloved singer, songwriter and author. At the age of 71 in September 2003, the world lost this outstanding musician to complications arising from his diabetes. However, despite a struggle with his illness and severe side-effects stemming from it, Cash gave one last public performance just a few months prior in July 2003.

Over the course of his long life, Cash became a member of the Rock and Roll, Country Music, Nashville Songwriters and Memphis Music Halls of Fame, received several Country Music Association Awards and Grammys, as well as several other awards given for a wide range of achievements, from vocal performances to album notes and videos. He was known all over the world and often regarded as the personification of the country genre. Despite this, he did not stay confined to one genre and wrote songs for a plethora of styles. 

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However, in his later years, Cash struggled with severe illness. Suffering from a range of symptoms, Cash was first wrongly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In 1997, the country singer was diagnosed with Shy-Drager syndrome, a rare neurodegenerative disease also known as multiple system atrophy. It causes progressive degeneration of the brain, leading to many difficult complications. However, this diagnosis was yet again changed several months later when it became clear he was suffering from autonomic neuropathy caused by his diabetes. 

Despite these tragic circumstances, Cash never stopped working on his music. He released two albums still, American III: Solitary Man in 2000, and American IV: The Man Comes Around in 2002. The latter included the Grammy Award winning cover of "Hurt", originally released by Nine Inch Nails. Then, on May 15, 2003, Cash's wife of 35 years, June Carter Cash, died at the age of 73. Cash felt the loss keenly, which could be seen two months later during his last live performance.

Due to his failing health, Cash was too weak to walk on stage by himself and was assisted by two helpers. Yet he still played a wonderful set of his most famous songs for the next 30 minutes, before stopping and pausing the performance suddenly. He then spoke to the audience about his late wife:

“The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight,” he said. “With the love she had for me and the love I have for her, we connect somewhere between here and Heaven. She came down for a short visit tonight, I guess, from Heaven, to visit with me tonight and give me courage and inspiration, like she always has.”

Right after these words, he played a heartfelt rendition of "Ring of Fire". The song had been written for him by his late wife herself. He followed it up with a gospel tune, "Angel Band". Despite the fact that his fingers were struggling at some points, he kept playing his guitar and gave a wonderful, outstanding performance. The set even included a song he had not performed live for 25 years, "Understand Your Man".

Sadly, this July performance would be his last one. He died a few months later on September 12, succumbing to his illness. 

Were you lucky enough to ever see Johnny Cash live? What do you think of this heartfelt live performance? Tell us your thoughts and share this video with other music lovers and Johnny Cash fans!