Johnny Cash: the first musician to have a statue in the Capitol
Johnny Cash he became the first musician to be honored with a statue at the U.S. Capitol. Kevin Kresse’s creation was presented at National Statuary Hall of Washington, DC, with the words of the daughter of the “Man in Black”, Rosanne Cash, during the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, September 24.
The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol is made up of statues donated by individual states to honor notable people in their history.
“Words cannot express our pride in seeing my father enjoy such a singular privilege, that of being the first musician in history to be part of the National Statuary Hall Collection,” said Rosanne, flanked by more than 100 family members and close friends.
“I am very careful not to put words in my father’s mouth after his passing, but on this day I can say with certainty that he would think that of the many honors and recognitions he received throughout his life, this is the most important”.
The writing on the statue’s base describes Johnny Cash as “singer, songwriter, artist and philanthropist”. Cash was a passionate advocate for prison reform, and in 1972 he traveled to Washington to make a direct appeal to the U.S. Senate.
“He loved the idea of America as a place of dreams and refuge, of freedom and wonder… He was a flawed but profoundly humble, kind and compassionate man, with a magnificent generosity of spirit in loving those who suffered,” the daughter said in her speech.
“Johnny Cash is the perfect person to be honored in this way,” he added the President of the Chamber Mike Johnson. “He was a man who embodied the American spirit as few can.”
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders were also present at the unveiling ceremony of the eight-foot-tall bronze sculpture.
This statue of Cash becomes the second sculpture of an icon ofArkansas to arrive at the Capitol this year; by May, another was installed honoring civil rights leader Daisy Bates, who led significant efforts in the fight for desegregation in Arkansas.
In 2019, the Arkansas State Legislature passed a bill to replace statues of the state’s 18th governor James P. Clarke (who had made remarks about preserving Arkansas’ “white standards”) and Arkansas sympathizer Confederation Uriah Rose.
Regarding the record production of Johnny Cash this summer a new album titled posthumously was released “Songwriter” (Read the review here). Furthermore, Rosanne Cash will be featured in a new box set of recordings by Elvis Costello out November 1st.
