‘Johnny Cash: The Redemption Of An American Icon’ Examines The Intersection Of Singer’s Life, Music And Faith

Bedecked head to toe in black, with a rich baritone that seemed older than the mountains, and lyrics that spoke sagely of love, justice and sin, Johnny Cash carved a deep trench into the Earth during his 71 years upon it. “Johnny was and is the North Star,” said Bob Dylan upon his death, “You could guide your ship by him – the greatest of the greats then and now.”  Whether writing from the point of view of a killer, speaking frankly about his own mistakes or testifying to the intercession of grace, Cash sang with the authority of a preacher. The new Starz documentary Johnny Cash: The Redemption Of An American Icon examines how his Christian faith informed both his life and work.

The film was directed by Ben Smallbone, whose previous work includes other Christian titles, and co-produced by Nashville’s Kingdom Story Company, which specializes in faith-based programming. It’s narrated by the great country musician and historian Marty Stuart, who played guitar for Cash over the years and was once married to his daughter Cindy. He’s one of several friends and family members interviewed alongside celebrity admirers, such as Sheryl Crow, Alice Cooper and Tim McGraw, and the Cash family pastor, the Reverend Jimmie Snow, son of country great Hank Snow, who had his own singing career before dedicating his life to Christ.     

Born J.R. Cash in 1932, Johnny grew up in Dyess, Arkansas, about an hour northwest of Memphis. The family of seven lived in a small house beside a cotton field with no electricity or running water and were expected to work in the field for up to 10 hours a day. At night, they would sing church hymns around the piano for solace and entertainment. Johnny wanted to be a singer from an early age. He was encouraged by his brother and best friend Jack, who aspired to become a preacher but died tragically from a gruesome industrial accident in his youth. Jack was buried on a Sunday and the family was back picking cotton the next day. 

After serving in the Air Force and marrying his first wife Vivian, Cash moved to Memphis where he launched his music career, recording classics for the great Sun Records. He racked up hundreds of shows a year on tour, fueled by amphetamines which enabled him to play multiple sets a night. The months away from home were bad for his marriage but what ended it was his affair with June Carter, part of country music’s seminal Carter Family. The guilt and addiction drove him over the edge and he became erratic, racking up arrests for a variety of offenses and cementing his image as an outlaw. 

The film’s thematic crossroads occurs in late 1967 when Cash hit literal rock bottom, crawling into a Tennessee cave with the intention to lay down and die. He later awoke and feeling the presence of The Lord, emerged a new man. He curbed his dependence on pills, married Carter, dedicated his life to God, and staged the first of two incredible comebacks. On the strength of 1968’s Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison live album, he became a household name, crossing over from the country charts into the pop charts. 

In 1969, ABC began airing The Johnny Cash Show on network television, a musical variety show which featured a mix of country, pop, and rock artists. According to the film, ABC soured on the show due to Cash’s habit of closing a gospel number and guests like evangelist Billy Graham, a personal friend who became a surrogate for his brother Jack. Cash also wrote and funded 1973’s Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus, a film about the life of Christ that was shot in Israel. In 1977, Cash’s faith crossed another threshold when he became an ordained minister.

Though Cash never stopped recording secular material, it’s the film’s contention that his bold religiosity turned off music fans and industry executives. The fact of the matter is, Cash’s sound was no longer popular with a country audience enthralled with slick ‘80s production and a new generation of artists. By mid-decade, he was dropped by longtime label, Columbia Records, and feared his career was over. Enter influential rock and hip-hop producer Rick Rubin. The American Recordings album series they made together was his second major comeback and saw him singing for pleasure on such unlikely covers as Nine Inch Nails “Hurt,” a career highlight and swansong. Cash died in September 2003, just four months after his wife, June Carter Cash. He was 71.    

Johnny Cash: The Redemption Of An American Icon is a thorough and well-made documentary and essential viewing given “The Man In Black”‘s legacy. However, it definitely has an agenda and I can see some viewers being uncomfortable with its overwhelming emphasis on faith and Christianity. It also rushes past or ignores parts of Cash’s story, such as his ongoing addiction struggles and his social justice advocacy, to dedicate more time to its narrative thesis. That said, I agree it’s impossible to separate Cash’s art from his spiritual journey and the end result succeeds on every level as a film. As Marty Stuart says,  “There’s two kinds of people, those that know and love Johnny Cash, and those that will.” Amen. 

Benjamin H. Smith is a New York based writer, producer and musician.