Hello, I’m Johnny Cash. That’s how Johnny Cash always started his concerts, right before launching into his classic song “Folsom Prison Blues” (1955). His final public performance was no different. But before we get to that unforgettable moment, let’s talk about what led up to it.
By July 2003, Johnny Cash was in poor health. He had been battling serious medical problems for years. He was frail, often in a wheelchair, and even had partial facial paralysis. On top of that, he was grieving the loss of the love of his life, June Carter Cash, who had passed away just two months earlier.
Back in 1997, doctors diagnosed Johnny with Shy-Drager syndrome, a rare and serious nerve disease. Later, they changed the diagnosis to autonomic neuropathy caused by diabetes. Despite his illness, he kept making music with his trusted producer, Rick Rubin. Even as his health declined and pneumonia weakened his lungs, he continued to record and release incredible albums under Rubin’s label, American Recordings.
June Carter Cash, Johnny’s beloved wife, died on May 15, 2003, at the age of 73. Just two months later, Johnny gave his last performance. It happened at the Carter Family Fold, a special venue at the base of Clinch Mountain in Hiltons, Virginia. This was more than just another show for Johnny Cash—it was a personal pilgrimage.
June was the daughter of Maybelle Carter, a legendary musician. Maybelle, along with her brother-in-law A.P. Carter and his wife Sara, formed The Carter Family, known as the first family of country music. The Carter Family had a huge influence on country and folk music. June herself had been singing with them since she was just 10 years old.
When the original Carter Family stopped recording in 1943, Maybelle and her daughters carried on as “The Carter Sisters & Mother Maybelle.” In 1950, they joined The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It was there that June met Johnny Cash for the first time. At the time, they were both married to other people, but fate had other plans.
The Carter Family Fold, where Johnny performed that last show, is a simple, barn-like building on the original Carter Family homestead. It serves as both a museum and a concert venue. It was the perfect place for Johnny to honor June and her family.
One of Johnny and June’s most famous songs together was “Jackson,” written by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber. Their version came out in February 1967, just a year before they tied the knot on March 1, 1968. The song was a huge success, reaching No. 2 on the U.S. Country charts. In 1968, it even won them a Grammy for Best Country & Western Performance by a Duo or Group.
At his final concert, Johnny was visibly weak. His voice was hoarse from laryngitis, and he sounded rough. Some people might hear that performance and think it was just an old man struggling to sing. But for those who truly knew and loved Johnny Cash, it was something much more powerful. It was a display of his unwavering spirit, his incredible music, and his deep love for June Carter Cash. It was nothing short of a triumph.
If you watch the video of that last show, you’ll notice a man in a white T-shirt helping Johnny with his microphone and guitar. That man is John Carter Cash, Johnny and June’s son. Like his parents, he is a musician and music producer, continuing the family legacy.
Just four months after June passed away, Johnny Cash followed her. He died on September 12, 2003. It was the end of an era, but his music and legacy continue to inspire people all over the world.
If you want to hear more from Johnny Cash, you can check out his official YouTube channel or visit his website for more information. The Man in Black may be gone, but his voice and his music will never fade.
