The Legendary Love Story Of Johnny Cash And June Carter

Jun 01, 2020 by apost team

Johnny Cash and June Carter's 35-year marriage was one of the most famous celebrity pairings in music history. Deep, passionate, forgiving, and played out in front of worldwide fans, their union was far from constant bliss. But it was steadfast.

What many people unfamiliar with the early days of the couple's life may not realize is that both Johnny and June were married to other people when they met. They may not realize that June also had her own successful music career before she met Johnny. June was part of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. She was a close friend of Elvis Presley and often sang with him on tour after she began a solo career.

It was Presley who insisted June meet Johnny. Presley had been playing Johnny's music for June. One night after they performed at Nashville's famous Grand Ole Opry in 1956, June met Johnny, reports Country Living.

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It wasn't exactly love at first sight for June, but Johnny had no problem admitting he fell for June almost right away. June's feelings for Johnny grew over time, but she was still married.

Being torn between her husband and Johnny left June in emotional turmoil. According to Country Living, she said she felt like she was in a 'ring of fire,' feelings which she later turned into a song that was a huge hit for both Johnny and June.

Over the next 13 years Johnny worked hard to convince June to marry him. She kept turning him down. Finally in early 1968, Cash popped the question again in front of 7,000 fans at a live show. This time June said yes.

They married on March 1st of that year and had a son in 1970. He chronicled their relationship in a bestselling book published after their deaths. Though their love was deep, it wasn't easy. Johnny struggled with addiction his entire life, but June stood by him throughout it all. Harder for her to accept was his womanizing.

Trying to handle both Johnny's addictions and her pain at his infidelity, June became addicted to prescription medications. In 2003, when she passed away aged 73 from complications after a surgery, Johnny was devastated. In one of his last concerts, he sang "Ring of Fire," admitting to the audience that he felt June's presence on him as he did so. Johnny himself died shortly after in 2003, at the age of 71, from health issues of his own.

Johnny and June were married for 35 tumultuous years. But their love story remains legendary because of their commitment to each other through such difficult times. Their love was truly unconditional and everlasting.