Johnny Cash Hurt A Lot More Than Himself

 Singer Johnny Cash heroically spoke out for Native Americans, the poor, and the incarcerated—but his personal life was like a black hole filled with scandal.

Johnny Cash, born J.R. Cash in 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas, often claimed Cherokee heritage. However, when his daughter appeared on *Finding Your Roots*, his ancestry took an unexpected turn. Cash grew up in a poor family of six siblings, working in cotton fields and finding solace in music after the tragic death of his brother Jack in a saw accident.

Cash began writing songs at 12 and joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, later marrying Vivian Liberto. After moving to Memphis, Tennessee, and struggling to find direction, he auditioned for Sun Records with gospel music. Sam Phillips, Sun's founder, encouraged him to bring more edge to his music, leading to Cash’s breakout with the rockabilly hits “Hey Porter” and “Cry, Cry, Cry” in 1955.

Cash’s big break came with the 1956 hit “I Walk the Line,” a pledge of fidelity inspired by his marriage, though he later struggled to uphold its promise. While touring, he began an affair with June Carter, a fellow performer and mutual friend of Elvis Presley, even as both were married to others. The relationship intensified over the years despite Cash’s infidelity, which reportedly included an affair with Carter’s sister, Anita.

By 1958, Cash and Liberto had relocated to Southern California with their growing family, but his personal life remained tumultuous, marked by fame, relationships, and the challenges of living up to his own ideals.

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