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The Eternal Love of Johnny Cash and June Carter
Johnny Cash and June Carter lived one of the most iconic love stories in the history of country music. Their romance remains among the most celebrated of the 20th century, withstanding numerous highs and lows, as well as the pressures of fame and industry challenges.
The couple met in 1956 during a backstage encounter at the Grand Ole Opry. At the time, Johnny was a rising music star with hits like “I Walk the Line.” When meeting June for the first time, he told her, “I’ve always wanted to meet you.” Carter replied, “I feel like I know you already.” There was instant quemistry between them.
June Carter was born in Maces Springs, Virginia, on June 23, 1929. She was a musician from a very young age and always loved to play on stage. The daughter of Ezra and Maybelle Carter, her mother played in a famous country/folk band called The Carter Family. At just 10 years old, June often sang with the group and toured across the country. By the 1940s, June, along with her mother and sisters, Anita and Helen, formed a band that eventually became known as The Carter Sisters. They traveled the country performing shows and eventually joined the cast of the national music showcase, the Grand Ole Opry. While performing at the Grand Ole Opry, June met her first husband, honky-tonk singer Carl Smith. They married in 1952 and later had a daughter named…
