Johnny Cash Just Made History At The US Capitol

The Man in Black made music history again 23 years after his death. According to the Associated Press, Johnny Cash is the first professional musician to have a statue in the United States Capitol. The 8-foot statue was unveiled on September 24. Political leaders, fans, and family shared in the excitement.

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Each state has two statues in the Hall of Statuary representing important people from the state. Arkansas replaced its statues with Johnny and Daisy Bates, a civil rights leader.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said at the unveiling ceremony, “Some may ask: Why should a musician have a statue here in the halls of the great American republic? The answer is pretty simple. It’s because America is about more than laws and politics.”

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “After God and country came Johnny Cash.” She added, “When so much in today’s world is fake, Johnny Cash was very real.”

Johnny’s daughter, Rosanne Cash, said her after would have loved the statue, and it would have been the “ultimate” honor in his life.

Video of the unveiling was shared on X, and fans were thrilled to see Johnny larger than life.

A fan shared, “That’s a great honor and well deserved! What a unique and beautiful voice he was!”

Another fan agreed, “Congratulations Johnny! You earned it! Rest In Peace!”

During his career, Johnny Cash won 13 Grammys and 9 Country Music Association Awards, among numerous others. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, In 1996, Johnny received the Kennedy Center Award.

Johnny Cash died in Nashville at age 71 in September 2003. He passed away just four months after he lost the love of his life, June Carter Cash, his bride of 45 years.

This story’s featured image is by CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images.