Exhausted, He Performed Iconic Songs For The Final Time

“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash,” was the iconic introduction that marked the beginning of Johnny Cash’s performances and set the tone for his timeless hit “Folsom Prison Blues,” released in 1955. This familiar greeting reemerged during his final public appearance. Before we look back at that last show, it’s important to understand the circumstances surrounding it. As he prepared for his performance on July 5, 2003, Cash was grappling with serious health challenges. By this time, he was significantly frail, often relying on a wheelchair, facing facial paralysis, and deeply mourning.

In 1997, Cash received a diagnosis of Shy–Drager syndrome, which was later identified as autonomic neuropathy linked to diabetes. Even as his health declined and his lungs suffered from pneumonia, he collaborated with producer Rick Rubin, crafting critically acclaimed albums under the American Recordings label. The recent passing of his beloved wife, June Carter Cash, on May 15, 2003, just 73 years old, cast a profound pall over his last concert, which took place only two months later.

Johnny Cash’s last performance was held at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, near Clinch Mountain, a location of deep personal significance that celebrated the musical legacy of the Carter family. June, his late wife, was the daughter of Maybelle Carter, a member of The Carter Family—pioneers of country music alongside A.P. and Sara Carter. June had been part of this musical lineage from the age of ten.

After The Carter Family stopped recording in 1943, Maybelle and her daughters continued as The Carter Sisters & Mother Maybelle and became Grand Ole Opry members in Nashville in 1950. It was here that Johnny Cash and June Carter’s paths first crossed, both of them married to other people at the time. The Carter Family Fold serves as both a museum and a concert venue, situated on the original estate of the Carter family.

Let’s take a moment to recall Johnny and June at their height:

“Jackson,” written by Billy Edd Wheeler and Jerry Leiber in 1963, was brought to life by Johnny Cash and June Carter in February 1967, leading to their marriage on March 1, 1968. The song reached No. 2 on the US Country charts and earned them a Grammy in 1968 for Best Country & Western Performance Duet, Trio, or Group.

Despite battling laryngitis, Johnny Cash’s final performance at the Carter Family Fold stands as a testament to his incredible spirit, extensive musical legacy, and enduring love for June Carter Cash. Even while facing health issues, his commitment to his craft shone through.

A poignant moment at the beginning of this show features John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny and June, lending a hand to his father. John Carter Cash is an accomplished musician and producer in his own right. Johnny Cash passed away on September 12, 2003, just four months after June. Let us honor his memory with one final song from the man in black: