The “man in black” is standing tall in a new venue. Tuesday, Sept. 24, saw a bronze statue of country music legend Johnny Cash unveiled in a special ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.
Cash will join a powerful companion, civil rights leader Daisy Bates. Her statue was unveiled back in May.
The two are new figures representing the state of Arkansas. Congressional and state lawmakers, as well as members of the Cash family were on hand for the event.
One memorable moment came when Cash’s daughter reflected on her father’s legacy, and his deep connection to Arkansas. Rosanne Cash talked about how her father met honor with love, and that he would have viewed the statue, “as the ultimate” honor.
Cash was born in the small town of Kingsland, Arkansas. The artist sold 90 million records and became one of the best-selling artists of all time. He was inducted into both the Country Music and the Rock & Roll Halls of Fame before he passed away in 2003 at the age of 71.
The statue comes as part of a move by Arkansas lawmakers, who voted in 2019 to replace two “lesser known” historical figures representing the state.
Both cash and Bates now stand in the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection.
