J is for Johnny

            J is for Johnny. Johnny Cash.

            I grew up on country but the Outlaws were something that I got into when I was exploring my own tastes in music. When I say Outlaws, I mean Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson. The men and women of country who had the attitude of “I think I’m a couple of times behind in telling you to kiss my ass.” That’s an actual Haggard quote, right there. It stands out strongly in my memory from my days watching CMT all the time.

            Johnny Cash is my favorite of the Outlaws though. I remember the first time I heard “A Boy Named Sue.” We had just gotten home but Mom insisted we sit in the car to listen to it all the way through, since it was the first time I’d heard it. I love “Hurt” and “Personal Jesus” and “Ghost Rider” and “Highwayman.”

            I’ve never seen the movie based on Cash’s life, but I think the love story between him and June Carter Cash is just the best. True love and the uniting of country music royalty. It’s better than William and Kate any day.

            They say legends never die. Johnny Cash may be gone and moved on, but his music remains and it is still loved by many, including this girl. The Man in Black’s legacy survives because of that, which is just one of the many amazing things about music.