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But all was not well. Cash was spinning out of control. His
marriage was collapsing and divorce seemed inevitable. Too, his
grueling tour schedule (which was now up to 300 shows a year) had
taken its toll. Cash became dependent on narcotics to keep up the
hectic pace. By the mid-1960s, Cash was a wreck and it began to
impact his career.
By 1967, though, Cash managed to overcome his addiction with the
help of his singing partner June Carter and her family. In 1968 he
and Carter were married and his career experienced a renaissance.
Throughout the remainder of the decade and into the 1970s Cash was at
the top of his game. A pair of live recordings made at Folsom Prison
and San Quentin both went gold and a passel of awards followed
including the CMA's Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist awards
in 1969.
The final payoff though, was a network television spot. Premiering
in 1969, The Johnny Cash Show aired over ABC. Taped at Nashville's
Ryman Auditorium, the show featured an eclectic mix of guests ranging
from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to Louis Armstrong and Merle Haggard.
Through his selection of guests, Cash helped to bridge the generation
gap and break down musical barriers. He also used the show as a forum
to discuss and raise the country's collective consciousness about
social issues of the day such as the plight of the Native Americans,
prison reform, and the conflict in Vietnam.
The show ceased production in 1971 but Cash continued to host
numerous specials for several years.
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