Johnny Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter, and actor who was considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music icon, his songs spanned other genres including rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of induction in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Cash was known for his deep, distinctive bass-baritone voice; for a rebelliousness, coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor; for providing free concerts inside prison walls; and for his signature performance clothing, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black". He traditionally began his concerts with the phrase "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash.", followed by his standard "Folsom Prison Blues". His best-known songs included "I Walk the Line", "Folsom Prison Blues", and "Ring of Fire." He also recorded humorous numbers like "A Boy Named Sue"; a duet with his future wife, June Carter, called "Jackson". During the last stage of his career, Cash covered songs by several late 20th-century rock artists, most notably "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails.

Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas; Cash was named J. R. Cash because his parents couldn't think of a name. When Cash enlisted in the Air Force, they wouldn't let him use initials as his name, so he started to use the legal name John R. Cash. In 1955, when signing with Sun Records, he took Johnny Cash as his stage name. Cash married his wife Vivian and had three children, all girls, with her. In 1954, Cash and Vivian moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he sold appliances while studying to be a radio announcer. At night he played with guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant. Cash worked up the courage to visit the Sun Records studio, hoping to get a recording contract. After auditioning for Sam Phillips, singing mostly gospel songs, Phillips told him that he didn't record gospel music any longer. It was once rumored that Phillips told Cash to "go home and sin, then come back with a song I can sell." Cash eventually won over the producer with new songs delivered in his early rock'a'billy style. In 1955 Cash made his first recordings at Sun, "Hey Porter" and "Cry! Cry! Cry!", which were released and met almost instant success. As his career was taking off in the late 1950s, Cash started drinking heavily and became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates. Cash used the uppers to stay awake during tours. Friends joked about his "nervousness" and erratic behavior, many ignoring the warning signs of his worsening drug addiction. Cash struggled long many years with his addiction until his friends and family demanded intervention. June Carter and his family cut him off, and he straightened up, got his head right, and continued performing after his long break due to the addiction. Johnny Cash died on September 1, 2003.