June Carter Cash is Born

Valerie June Carter Cash (June 23, 1929 – May 15, 2003) was a singer, songwriter, actress, comedian and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash.

She played the guitar, banjo, harmonica, and autoharp and acted in several films and television shows.

In 1968, 12 years after they first met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, Cash proposed to June Carter, an established country singer, during a live performance in London, Ontario, marrying on March 1, 1968 in Franklin, Kentucky. He had proposed numerous times, but she had always refused. They had one child together, John Carter Cash (born March 3, 1970).

They continued to work together and tour for 35 years, until June Carter died in 2003. Cash died just four months later. Carter co-wrote one of his biggest hits, "Ring of Fire," and they won two Grammy awards for their duets.

Vivian Liberto claims a different version of the origins of "Ring of Fire" in I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, stating that Cash gave Carter the credit for monetary reasons.