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June Carter Actually Told Johnny Cash To “Shut Up” When He Proposed To Her Onstage In Canada In 1968: “It Scared Me To Death”
Just adorable.
Of course, Johnny and June Carter Cash are an iconic country couple, and have inspired generations with their endearing relationship and timeless love story.
The two first met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1956, but were both married to different people at the time. Eventually, over 10 years later, they would marry in 1968, and remained together until June passed away May of 2003. Johnny passed away not long after, in September of 2003.
Their love story is well-documented, of course I’m sure we’ve all seen the movie Walk The Line and maybe you’ve read Johnny’s now-famous love letter to June, in which he writes to her that his love for her is still “hotter than a pepper sprout”:
“Hey June, That’s really nice June. You’ve got a way with words and a way with me as well. The fire and excitement may be gone now that we don’t go out there and sing anymore, but the ring of fire still burns around you and I, keeping our love hotter than a pepper sprout. Love, John.”
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Johnny also delivered the following iconic line about his love for June, which I’m sure we’ve all heard before too:
“This morning, with her, having coffee.”
Their deep love and admiration has captivated fans for generations, though they certainly had a ton of humor in their relationship as well, which was on full display during an appearance on the The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1980. Johnny appeared alongside June for the interview, though she did most of the talking.
She explained how they had both worked with Elvis long before they met each other, and she first heard Johnny’s music because Elvis would play “Cry, Cry, Cry” and tune his guitar to it all the time.
As aforementioned, they eventually met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry, and Johnny proposed to June on February 22nd, 1968, during a live concert in London, Ontario, Canada, in front of an audience of 7,000 people.
After they finished their duet of “Jackson,” he stopped the show, looked at her, and said, “Will you marry me?”
But June’s recounting of the story on the Johnny Carson show is so great…
She recalled telling him to “shut up” after asking that, and explained she didn’t know what to say. Eventually, she said yes, just so they could move on with the show:
“Johnny Cash straightened himself up really, and he proposed to me on the stage, in front of about 7,000 people in London, Ontario, Canada. A lot of witnesses, it scared me to death. I kept saying, ‘Shut up.’
And my mother was there, my sisters, the Statler Brothers, and they kept laughing at me and I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. And he just stood there and looked at me and grinned until I said something. I said yes.”
I bet you’ve never heard that part of the Johnny and June love story… just classic.
To be fair, for many years, Johnny had not been on the “straight and narrow” path, so to speak, and June also talks about how her mother wasn’t his biggest fan in the beginning of their relationship because of that, and understandably so.
Eventually, Johnny went to rehab, kicked his drug habit for good and became a devout Christian, and it’s in many thanks to June and her unwavering love and support. I also can’t blame her for being a little nervous at first (or maybe even thinking it was a joke)… Johnny’s reputation preceded him back then, and she was the driving force in him getting his act together for good.
The full interview is fantastic, and June is just an incredible storyteller and incredibly funny and endearing. You can watch the full segment below, and I’d highly recommend it:
The post June Carter Actually Told Johnny Cash To “Shut Up” When He Proposed To Her Onstage In Canada In 1968: “It Scared Me To Death” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.
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