June Carter Cash life and biography

Valerie June Carter was born June 23, 1929, in Maces Springs, Va., the second of the three daughters of Mother Maybelle Carter of the legendary Carter Family. Her mother taught her to play autoharp (and later guitar) and in 1939, she and sisters Anita and Helen Carter were appearing on Border Radio as members of the Carter Family. When the original Carter Family retired in 1943, she sang and played rhythm guitar in the family group, Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters, on various radio stations. From 1950 onwards, for many years, they were regulars on the Grand Ole Opry.

Although not possessing the finer vocal talents of her sisters, she did develop a flair for comedy, which she used to good effect in a character she called Aunt Polly. In 1949, she enjoyed a country and pop hit with a duet version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with comedy duo Homer & Jethro. For a time during the 50s, she was married to singer Carl Smith, with whom she had two daughters, Rozanna and Rebecca Carlene, who as Carlene Carter went on to a successful solo career.

In the early 60s, June began to work with Johnny Cash's show, soon being joined by her mother and sisters. In 1964, her recording with Cash of "It Ain't Me Babe" made both country and pop charts and in 1967, they had a No. 2 country hit with "Jackson." She married Cash on March 1, 1968. From that point, her career has naturally run in conjunction with his as she continued to be a regular and expected member of his show. The following year they were voted Vocal Group of the Year and their son John Carter Cash was born in 1970.

Following a long absence from the spotlight, she returned with the 1999 album Press On, which won a Grammy for best traditional folk album. The 2003 album Wildwood Flower also won two Grammys. She died on May 15, 2003.

In 2005, a film based on her romance with Cash, Walk the Line, was Oscar-nominated for Best Picture. Reese Witherspoon, who played Carter Cash, won an Oscar for her role. That same year, Columbia Legacy issued a two-disc set, Keep on the Sunny Side: June Carter Cash -- Her Life in Music.

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