Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash had a deeply enduring relationship, and their bond was a significant part of Johnny Cash’s life.
Johnny Cash’s death in 2003 was attributed to complications from diabetes and other health issues, rather than directly to grief.
June Carter Cash had passed away in May 2003, just a few months before Johnny. While it’s clear that June’s death was a profound loss for Johnny, his health issues were the primary factors in his passing.
Johnny Cash had been battling a range of health issues, including Shy–Drager syndrome, which is a rare and progressive disorder affecting the autonomic nervous system.
His passing on September 12, 2003, was indeed due to complications related to diabetes and his overall declining health.
The misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s disease earlier added to the confusion about his health.
The close timing of June Carter Cash’s death and his own health struggles undoubtedly affected him deeply, but his death was primarily due to his medical conditions rather than direct grief.
Robert Hillburn’s book “Johnny Cash: The Life” provides insight into Johnny Cash’s health struggles. Shy-Drager syndrome was initially diagnosed, but it was later corrected to autonomic neuropathy associated with diabetes.
This condition significantly impacted his ability to tour and perform, contributing to the decline in his health in the years leading up to his death.
June Carter Cash passed away on May 15, 2003, at the age of 73 due to complications from heart-valve replacement surgery.
Her death occurred just a few months before Johnny Cash, deeply affecting him during his final months.
In a statement made after her death, Johnny said:
“The spirit of June Carter overshadows me tonight with the love she had for me and the love I have for her.
“We connect somewhere between here and Heaven. She came down for a short visit, I guess, from Heaven to visit with me tonight to give me courage and inspiration like she always has.
“She’s never been one for me except courage and inspiration. I thank God for June Carter. I love her with all my heart.”
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash’s relationship began when they met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1955.
Their close bond grew as they toured together, with Johnny as a solo artist and June as part of The Carter Family. Despite being married at the time, Johnny’s infatuation with June was evident.
They were inseparable after Johnny’s marriage ended. On February 22, 1968, Johnny proposed to June during a live performance in Ontario, marking the beginning of their life together as a couple.
Johnny Cash was buried next to June Carter Cash at Hendersonville Memory Gardens in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Tragically, just a month after Johnny’s death, Rosie Nix Adams, June’s youngest daughter, passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning. This was a devastating continuation of the grief for the Cash family.
