# June Carter Cash Dies; Prayers for Johnny and Family **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574 "2003-05-16T00:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/1 "2003-05-16T00:18:44Z")
**Y’all please say a prayer for the Man in Black** June Carter Cash, beloved wife of Johnny Cash, died a short while ago, of complications from open-heart surgery, in Nashville, TN. She had been in critical condition since last week, weakened, and on life support. Details of her illness, and the wishes up until now, can be found [here](http://maninblack.net/News_Updates.html#Cash%20news). June was an incredibly strong woman, and Johnny credits her for turning his life around. Johnny is one of my musical heroes, the Carter family as well. They’ve given so much to the world with their music. Mr. Cash is in frail health these days, and recently lost his oldest sister, Louise, on April 4th. My heart aches for the Cash/Carter family now. They’ve given the world good strength by singing; I wish them all good strength in this tremendous grief. All best prayers to John tonight, his heart must be desolate. Can’t find words… ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/2 "2003-05-16T00:29:43Z")
Best wishes, Johnny and family. Can’t express how deeply you’ve touched me. -j ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/3 "2003-05-16T00:51:38Z")
Best wishes to John and his family. Johnny was heading to a permanent haze of drugs and alcohol, but his love for June saved him. With her links to the Carter family and Johnny she was the heart and soul of country music. Her most important musical contribution was writing “Ring of Fire…”. Johnny and all the Cash family, as well as all their fans will miss her. Godspeed June, and strength to Johnny. Keith ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/4 "2003-05-16T02:00:51Z")
**rmbxnx** , from his post, has a nice link to the importance of June Carter Cash ; [raht chere](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=8&u=/ap/20030515/ap_on_en_mu/obit_cash_7) That’s a start. The Carter Family was The Country Music group at the time. June’s love and sustainance of Johnny is a great link between country and rock(-a-billy). She was a great unifying person in a time of change; roots deep enough to understand the past, and a heart big enough to hang with them changes; Johnny was plenty example of that. Good Godspeed tonight, June. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/5 "2003-05-16T02:45:49Z")
Rest in peace, June. You were natural beauty, strength, kindness and perserverance–the true definition of a lady. Heaven must have needed another harp player, that’s all I can say. My heart aches for Johnny. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/6 "2003-05-16T02:47:38Z")
I grew up on this woman’s talent. I just called my mom. We both cried. Never thought June would go before Johnny. So Sad. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/7 "2003-05-16T03:43:37Z")
I’m surprised y’all beat **Eve** to this. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/8 "2003-05-16T05:37:24Z")
This is so sad. In the recent “Hurt” music video, they looked at each other with such love. My sympathy goes out to Johnny and the family. June was his saving grace. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/9 "2003-05-16T07:58:01Z")
This is terrible news. As everyone knows, Johnny’s not in the best of health. We’ve lost June, let’s hope that we don’t lose Johnny as well, because of this. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/10 "2003-05-16T12:10:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*This is terrible news. As everyone knows, Johnny’s not in the best of health. We’ve lost June, let’s hope that we don’t lose Johnny as well, because of this. \*\* That was my first thought too. June Carter Cash was not only an extremely talented singer, she was always a really classy lady. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/11 "2003-05-16T12:13:07Z")
**Tuckerfan** and **Annie-Xmas** : That was my first thought as well. I’m afraid this will do Johnny in. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/12 "2003-05-16T13:03:27Z")
Oh, I’ll handle the movie, TV and stage people (see Wendy Hiller, below), and leave the sports and country-music folks to others . . . ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/13 "2003-05-16T14:47:13Z")
Tuckerfan- I wouldn’t be surprised if Johnny would rather go, but God love & comfort him & strengthen him for whatever time he has left. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/14 "2003-05-16T15:17:47Z")
“We got married in a fever, Hotter than a pepper sprout. And we’ve been talkin’ 'bout Jackson Ever since the fire went out…” Even us New York City kids used to watch their show. Johnny and June had cool guest musical acts back when nobody else seemed to. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/15 "2003-05-16T16:13:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astorian \* > \*\*“We got married in a fever, > Hotter than a pepper sprout. > And we’ve been talkin’ 'bout Jackson > Ever since the fire went out…” > > Even us New York City kids used to watch their show. Johnny and June had cool guest musical acts back when nobody else seemed to. \*\* Okay, I’m reading these lyrics and the song comes on the radio…that’s twice that’s happened to me on this forum. I’m sitting at work with a tear in my eye for Johnny. “At my door the leaves are falling, The cold wild wind will come, Sweethearts walk by together, And I Still Miss Someone.” ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/16 "2003-05-16T16:27:04Z")
Wow, what a shocker. Very sad indeed. She’ll be missed. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/17 "2003-05-16T18:13:58Z")
I think CNN could have found a better picture of her on their website. The one they used looks sorta like Zira from the original “Planet of the Apes.”:eek: ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/18 "2003-05-16T18:33:33Z")
This is so sad… I just got the recent book about the Carter Family (Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone?) from the library. Now I’m too sad to read it. Earlier today I listened to the [Carter Family version of "Can the Circle be Unbroken?](http://www.honkingduck.com/BAZ/baz_one.php?req=ARTIST&pg=2&auid=1065&tuid=557&cuid=20204A). Made me cry. ---
**Author:** ![WillSantini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@WillSantini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillSantini)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/19 "2003-05-16T18:41:24Z")
I will drink a beer and listen to _Ring of Fire_. Thank you June for giving us such a great song. RoF has very special meaning for me. I wish I had someone to dance with. My prayers are with you and yours. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574/20 "2003-05-16T19:03:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Earlier today I listened to the Carter Family version of "Can the Circle be Unbroken?. Made me cry. A local station did a quick retrospective of June, and they played Johnny’s cover of “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” over it. So don’t feel alone, **Jess** …I cried like a child for a good five or ten minutes listening to that. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/june-carter-cash-dies-prayers-for-johnny-and-family/175574.md?page=2)