The Health Decline and Death of Johnny Cash
Paul promoted, played and sang in many music bands during his teenage years and twenties. Born in the UK, he now lives in Florida.
Cash was an icon of 20th century music. His life was full of tribulations, however, both emotional and physical. A combination of heartbreak and physical conditions would eventually lead to his death.
Multiple Health Problems
The death of Johnny Cash was a terrible event for all country fans and for music lovers generally. The singer had suffered multiple serious health problems in the years leading up to his demise, however, so his passing wasn't a big surprise to those close to him.
By the end of the 1980s, he had already undergone operations on his knees, heart, and jaw, and would be plagued with bad health right up to when he died.
The problems were seen as payback by some, including Kris Kristofferson, for the years of abuse that Cash had subjected his body to with drugs and alcohol at various stages throughout his life.
As well as causing him a lot of physical pain, these ailments also created major problems in his career as a musician. It was automatic neuropathy, a condition associated with diabetics, that stopped him from touring (the condition was correctly diagnosed in 1997, after his symptoms had previously been wrongly interpreted as Shy-Drager syndrome, a neurodegenerative disease that resembles Parkinson’s Disease).
With touring gone, Cash focused on recording, as well as spending more time with his wife, June at their Jamaican holiday home, where the sunshine seemed to ease the physical pain caused by his ailments.
Hurt
Then things deteriorated further, when Cash was struck down with pneumonia in 1998, causing him to suffer a period of hospitalization and worse still, lung damage. But Cash continued to record.
Then, in 2002, the album American IV: The Man Comes Around was released. This album was noticeably darker and more serious in its tone than with some of his earlier recordings and suggested that Cash was attempting to come to terms his mortality.
The cover of the Nine Inch Nails song, “Hurt” featured on this album. Written by Trent Reznor about a bad relationship break up, Cash took the song and effectively made his own and, along with the powerful video for Hurt that Mark Romanek made to accompany the song, it is seen by many as Cash’s epitaph.
The Death of June Carter
Just when Johnny Cash seemed to have reached a new creative peak and was enjoying the afterglow created by the success of “Hurt”, he was struck by a terrible shock when his beloved wife, June Carter died suddenly in May 2003. She went into hospital for a heart operation and never came out again.
It was a serious blow to him and some believe it was a factor in his own death happening so quickly afterwards. Although June was aged 73 when she died, most people had expected her to outlive Cash, given that his multiple health problems seemed more life threatening.
Cash had relied on June for most of his later life as a source of stability and support. She had supported him through illnesses and addictions and been his constant companion for 35 years. Now she was gone.
June had insisted that Cash kept working in the event of her death, so that is what he did. The week after June died, he went into the studio and recorded 5 new songs. He told Rick Rubin, his producer, that he wanted to be kept occupied every day. He even gave a couple of impromptu performances for family and friends.
At his last performance, which took place at the Carter Family Fold on the 5th July, 2003, Cash read out a prepared statement before he performed the song, Ring of Fire, a hit that June had co-written with Merle Kilgore in 1963 about falling in love with Cash.
“The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight with the love she had for me and the love I have for her. We connect somewhere between here and heaven. She came down for a short visit, I guess, from heaven to visit with me tonight to give me courage and inspiration like she always has.”
Johnny and June during healthier times. Their turbulent romance which began when they were both married to others is the stuff of legend. Some people believe that it was the death of June that prompted the early death of a "broken hearted" Johnny.
The Death of Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash died from complications resulting from his diabetes at 2am C.T. on the 12th September, 2003, less than four months after June died, while he was in Baptist Hospital, Nashville.
He was buried alongside June in Hendersonville memory Gardens, not far from where he’d lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
The death of Cash brought about many tributes to the singer from across the music business and included a number of posthumous awards.
There was also a tribute from the artist Gary Allan, who wrote a track called, "Nickajack Cave (Johnny Cash's Redemption)" about the deceased singer.
The grave of Johnny Cash in in Hendersonville Memory Gardens near his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He was buried next to his wife, June, who died several months before him. Some people believe that his broken heart brought on his death.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
Questions & Answers
Question: What were Johnny Cash's last words before he died?
Answer: Johnny Cash's last words are rumored to be: "I hear the train a-comin". However, I have yet to find any evidence to confirm this, so would treat this with some suspicion.
Question: How old was Johnny Cash when he died?
Answer: Cash was 71 years old when he died. He was born in 1932 and died in 2003.
© 2011 Paul Goodman
Comments
rodem on January 24, 2020:
lies he lives
James C. (as in JC) McGowan on December 18, 2019:
I have seen John no fewer than 10 times between 1968 and 1995. I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Met John on November 16, 1987 on the day of his concert in Calgary. I was first in line to meet him, said, "I'd sure like to shake your hand John." He said "I'd really appreciate that". He is one of my life heroes and I take life heroes very seriously!
janey on December 16, 2019:
im sorry but ive gone off june carter after reading she pursued johnny knowing he was married with 4 little girls.gone off Johnny a bit too for that. at least they remained friends. his daughters must have been devastated.
Mark Grubb on October 13, 2019:
It was my privilege to meet Johnny Cash at first through June's aunt Janette Carter and live in Washington in 1995. He was a common man and I believe that was his appeal to the masses. I loved the man in black and I think he was ready "when the man came around".
Jared Willis on June 08, 2019:
Jared Willis Cash
peter rueschmann on May 27, 2019:
johnny and june where first class they both greated great music
mikaylasmom on March 14, 2019:
I sure do miss him! He was one of the last TRUE country artists.
haretil on February 01, 2019:
johnny cash did these things over junes death
codywils2024@isd477.org on January 28, 2019:
johnny cash was the greatest country singer EVER
Teddy on April 10, 2018:
Sure wish he was still here today. Loved his songs
Uncle John on October 18, 2017:
Don't you mean "Autonomic Neuropathy" and not "Automatic Neuropathy"....His death was drugs and alcohol, not merely a complication of diabetes
Jean Bakula from New Jersey on September 08, 2017:
I don't like "new country", but am familiar with "old country" from my parents. Johnny Cash was truly was one of the greats. Kris Kristofferson wouldn't have had a career without JC, he landed a helicopter in Cash's back yard to get attention and a chance in the music business. He abused drugs and booze just as much. But thanks for recognizing a great icon. At least he joined June soon.
random on February 17, 2017:
he has the same birthday as me
Tony bray on September 19, 2016:
Wish I could have done a song with him or hi son
Raevyn14 from Tecumseh, Oklahoma on February 24, 2012:
He is one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived and played. He died doing what he loved to do
myawn from Florida on April 28, 2011:
I was raised on Cash's music my dad loved his songs and played and sang them all the time. His favorite was a boy named Sue. Mine is The Orange Blossom Special.very popular here in Florida. Very good hub!
DIYweddingplanner from South Carolina, USA on April 28, 2011:
Paul, Both of my parents were, and now my grown son is, a huge fan of Johnny Cash. A voice and soul like his are hard to come by. Thanks for posting.
Paul Goodman (author) from Florida USA on February 27, 2011:
Thank you for reading, Wayne.
Wayne Brown from Texas on February 26, 2011:
Thanks for sharing
Paul Goodman (author) from Florida USA on February 26, 2011:
His most bizzarre health problem was the ostrich kick that he received in the 1980s. I was lucky enough to see him live in the 1990s before he was forced to stop touring.
Genna East from Massachusetts, USA on February 25, 2011:
Interesting read. I had on idea his health problems were this extensive. He had a voice that was like no other...one of my favorites. RIP.
