Iconic American Voice — Captured Forever in Bronze

Hands playing an electric guitar.

Johnny Cash becomes the first musician to be honored with a statue at the U.S. Capitol.

At a Glance

  • A statue of Johnny Cash was unveiled in the U.S. Capitol, making him the first musician to be honored there.
  • The statue was created by Kevin Kresse, a sculptor from Little Rock, Arkansas.
  • The statue depicts Cash with a guitar and a Bible, symbolizing his faith.
  • The Arkansas legislature voted in 2019 to replace statues of Uriah Rose and Sen. James Clarke with those of Johnny Cash and Daisy Bates.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Cash for embodying the American spirit.

Johnny Cash’s Historic Honor at the U.S. Capitol

In a historic ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, Johnny Cash was commemorated with a statue, becoming the first professional musician to achieve this distinction. Sculpted by Kevin Kresse of Little Rock, Arkansas, the statue depicts Cash with a guitar over his back and a Bible in his hand, representing his deep faith.

The event was attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, members of the Cash family, and several hundred guests. The speakers highlighted Cash’s enduring legacy as an artist who captured the struggles and triumphs of ordinary Americans through music.

Symbol of Faith and Music

Kevin Kresse’s creation stands as a testament to Johnny Cash’s significant contributions to music and his profound faith. The guitar and Bible in Cash’s statue symbolize his devotion to his art and his spiritual beliefs. Cash, known for hits like “I Walk The Line” and “Ring of Fire,” had an influence that spanned multiple genres including country, blues, rock and roll, and gospel.

“When so much in today’s world is fake, Johnny Cash was very real,” Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated at the ceremony.

His daughter, Rosanne Cash, spoke passionately about her father’s Christian faith, emphasizing his respect for all paths to God and underscoring his legacy as a “living redemption story.”

A Statue of American Values

House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Johnny Cash, calling him “a man who embodied the American spirit in a way that few could.” He further emphasized that Cash’s honor is not just about his music, but also his embodiment of the moral and spiritual values cherished by many Americans.

“Johnny Cash is the perfect person to be honored in that way. He was a man who embodied the American spirit in a way that few could,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Legacy of Johnny Cash

Cash’s statue is now part of the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection, where each state can donate two statues. The Arkansas legislature approved replacing the previous statues of Uriah Rose and Sen. James Clarke with those of Johnny Cash and civil rights leader Daisy Bates. The inscription on the pedestal fittingly describes Cash as a “singer, songwriter, artist, and humanitarian.” His music continues to inspire and resonate across generations.

“Words cannot come close to expressing our pride to see my dad accorded such a singular privilege: the first musician in history to be included in the Statuary Hall collection,” Rosanne Cash said, channeling the collective sentiment of the occasion. – https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/09/24/capitol-Johnny-Cash-statue-unveiled/9001727211905

The ceremony concluded with a moving rendition of “I Walk the Line” by the United States Air Force Band and a Benediction by Dr. Mike Garrett, Johnny Cash’s nephew. The statue stands not just as a tribute to Johnny Cash, the musician, but as a symbol of the enduring American values of faith, resilience, and individuality that he so dearly represented.

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