It’s hard to believe that the very last performance by the greatest musician in country-rock was a mere 15 years ago. On July 5th, 2003, 71-year-old Johnny Cash took to the stage at the Carter Ranch in Hiltons, Virginia in a large wooden structure known as the Carter Family Fold. Cash had played here frequently, and it was only a short distance from the city of Bristol, aka “the Birthplace of Country Music.” Also helped that Cash famously became linked to the Carter family when he married June Carter.
That evening, Cash was too frail to walk to the microphone. He was introduced by founder of the Ranch Janette Carter. He insisted on not being brought to the stage VIA wheelchair, so he was propped up by two assistants and made his way to the center of the stage.
The set was 30 minutes and carried seven songs, unleashing a remarkable setlist of only his career peaks. The first half consisted of “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk the Line,” and his famously-made Kris Kristofferson cover “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” Then the Rock ‘n’ Roll, Country Music, and Gospel Hall of Famer took a minute to reflect on his late wife.
“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 tonight, I guess, from Heaven, to visit with me tonight and give me courage and inspiration, like she always has.”
He followed that sentiment with lively performance of his biggest hit “Ring of Fire,” a song June wrote (with Merle Kilgore.) After playing a cover of the traditional gospel tune “Angel Band,” he ended with “Big River” and last but certainly not least, “Understand Your Man,” a single he hadn’t performed on stage in 25 years.
Cash passed away two month later on September 12th, and now him and June are together forever.
Check out his last performance in full in the video below!
