June Carter Cash is one of the most legendary songwriters on the country scene. But when her husband, Johnny Cash, covered one of her co-written songs and turned it into the stuff of music legend, he swept up June’s limelight and inadvertently led the world to believe that “Ring of Fire” was one of his own originals.
But, as June Carter took to the stage before a sea of applauding fans, she surprised them with her own rendition of Cash’s greatest hit, revealing how “Ring of Fire” was supposed to sound. The footage has racked up more than 211,000 views since reaching YouTube last year, and Music Man readers can check it out in the video below…
June sits before the mic clutching an autoharp in her arms, telling how she wrote “Ring of Fire” for Johnny Cash back in 1962 – a song first recorded by June’s sister, Anita Carter, that very year, before Johnny catapulted it to fame with his iconic 1963 recording.
Falling in love with Johnny was “a scary thing,” as June reveals to her audience. He was “a wild man,” but “a nice man,” spurring her to write the hit not only for Johnny but about him.
At the time of the song’s composition, both June and Johnny were married to different partners, and it took them until 1968 to finally tie the knot and become one of country music’s most beloved couples.
As June dives into her live version, the song takes on a brand new meaning. The danger of catching feelings for a married man, the emotional inferno of impending divorce and remarriage to a man she describes as “unpredictable,” all take center stage as June’s soft voice dazzles the audience. After decades of hearing Johnny’s world-renowned single, we’ve become somewhat numbed to its lyrics. Yet June’s rendition draws a new wave of focus to the story this song truly captures.
Johnny and June sadly passed away within months of each other in 2003. But as fans return to this performance and share their thoughts beneath the viral clip, one common thread of awe runs through each and every listener.
One fan wrote, “My God! What a lovely woman she was! And she put up with Johnny Cash! I hope he knew what a lucky man he was! I’m sure he did.” Another confirmed, “This song has all the more power, knowing it was written by June. She’s also a heck of a performer.”
After another viewer called the Carter family “country royalty,” one fan revealed, “[June’s] legacy goes back to before Johnny was famous for anything. Absolutely love them both and their stories together and as separate artists.”