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Johnny Cash, our steadfast supporter, record holder for appearances on our cover, including our first, has contributed editorials, photographs and even interviewed former roommate, Waylon Jennings, for us. In appreciation, we expanded 20 Questions for this 25th Anniversary Issue and Patrick Carr got Mr. Cash to answer 25.

1. In the past 25 years, do you remember one story in our magazine that sticks most in your mind?

Yeah, the one Patrick Carr wrote that ends with good ol' Cash "still the Indian in the white man's camp." I don't remember what issue that was, but that was the best story I ever read on me.

2. Still feel like an Indian in the white man's camp?

Sometimes. Sometimes I do. I'm still not comfortable with a straight necktie on and a suit, like a suit and pants that match, dress shirts. I'm not comfortable much with collar buttons, no matter what I'm wearing. I do it, but I'm not comfortable with it. I don't know, there's just a few things that I never have been able to conform to.

3. Beyond that, do you feel like part of the modern country music community, or do you feel like an outsider?

Oh, I feel like I'm part of it. I feel like I've always been kind of an outsider, but I seem to be pretty busy working off and on with the new artists, singing on their records, which I enjoy doing. I get a lot of respect from them. I really appreciate that.

4. Among the current generation of country singers, who is really a keeper?

Marty Stuart. He's slowly emerging, but he's laying down a solid foundation everywhere he goes. He's got the goodwill of the people, he's got the respect of the people in the music business, and he is the kind of man that country music really needs to keep it down on the ground, down to earth. He can play it any way. He can play it rock'n'roll, rockabilly, country, bluegrass, pure country, hard country, old country, new country. He can play all that. In my opinion, Marty Stuart is far above-his talents are far beyond and above the average run of the mill.

5. Who else fits that category ?

Travis Tritt will be around. He's-I don't know. He's just got that star quality-also he's got the humility, like Marty Stuart has. He's also very, very talented.

6. Anyone else in that league that you can see?

Yeah, I love Trisha Yearwood. Trisha has got some real original qualities that will give her a lot of longevity.

7. Our editors picked your album, Silver; as one of the 25 best albums of the last 25 years.

Thank you.

8. Does that album hold any special album significance for you these days?

Yeah, I look back on that album as one of my best works. For that era, it was my best work. Brian Ahern is a fine producer. He wrote the kinds of songs for this album that made it really special for me. "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and just some really good songs. Then, Rodney Crowell was involved in it, too, in engineering it and working with Brian on the production. I feel like I could never go wrong with Rodney Crowell anyway. Of course that album didn't set the world on fire, but I think it was an excellent work.

9. On another note, how is Country Music Magazine different from other country music magazines?

It's hard for me to say because Country Music Magazine is the only one that I really read. It's got everything in it that I want to know about the business. You see, the magazine pays homage to those who are dead and gone, the great ones that are dead and gone, by reviewing old albums and songs that are put together and released again; running stories on the early country music. Unlike most radio stations that are playing Top 40 country, Country Music Magazine has not forgotten where its bread is buttered. It pays homage to the traditions of our business.

10. Do you remember your reaction to the first issue?

It looked like it meant business, real business. As it turned out, it did, and I am very glad.

11. Tell us a funny Russ Barnard story.

Russ Barnard has always been nice to me. I met most everybody that worked at the magazine, in New York City and then in Connecticut. I took a lot of pictures. I even went outside and took pictures with Russ Barnard. It started raining, so I quit. I begged off. I don't know a good Russ Barnard story.

When he comes to Nashville and he's out with Jack Clement, I never have been lucky enough to be there at the same time. But, I'll catch him yet.

12. Why does Jack Clement call you Captain Decibel?

It has to do with one morning I was in front of the microphone at his place. I had a little cold, but it made my voice better and deeper. On the bass I could go lower and sing better. He made some comment about me busting his decibel needle with my low notes, calling me Captain Decibel. It's kind of stuck.

13. Over the years, what's the song or the album that has meant the most to you of your own work.

I've always felt like my song "Ballad to Barbara" was exceptional. I was kind of proud of that song. It was on one of my Mercury/Polygram albums. Other than that, the "Ride This Train" album and the "Ring of Fire" album, where I did so many things that I had researched and gotten some really good documentary style and Iyrics, and then the narrations especially I was proud of.

14. Any others that come to mind?

I guess the prison albums. That was a dream come true. I had always wanted to do that. It came out exactly like I had always hoped it would.

15. What about country music fans-have they changed much?

No, I don't think so. I can't see any difference in the fans and the way they react to me. The young people are a little more exuberant than the older ones, but that's always been that way. I don't have that great multitude of following of young people like, for instance, Garth might have or Reba. But, the ones that are there really help make my day. My audience is a cross section of all ages from punk rockers to old ladies with purple hair. I enjoy playing for all of them. I have such a repertoire that I can be entertaining one of the older people and still not offend or turn off the younger people.

16. If you could go back and change anything, what would it be?

I don't think I would change anything. I let my record stand the way it is. I made my mistakes, and I paid for them, and they're there showing their butt to the world. But, it's a part of me and it's a part of what I have done. I long ago stopped grieving over and feeling guilty about anything I have done. If I have ever cheated my fans, I would regret that. I would try to do something over and do it better, if I hurt somebody or cheated somebody. Other than that, I wouldn't do a thing over.

17. Who would you like to see, apart from yourself, on the cover of CMM?

I'd like to see Rosanne and an updated story about her accomplishments and what she's doing now because she's got a fabulous career taking off the ground in the literary world. She's writing some really fine songs since Country Music Magazine did their last story on her. I would like to see that. Other than that, I would like to see a story on the second generation and interview about a dozen offspring of famous people. Get their opinion on what life is like and how they see their star parent. I think it might get closer to them with a more objective look than the stars could give themselves in interviews. First, you've got to get their trust, though.

18. Who would you like to record with?

That is really a tough one because I have got so many people I like in the music business. I might like to try to record with Trisha someday, if she would like to.

19. When you think about the last 25 years in music, what stands out?

The Country Music Hall of Fame induction. That night at the Grand Ole Opry House when I was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as its youngest living member, that was a big one, and it still is. Since then, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock'n' Roll Hall of Fame, the Legend Award, the Kennedy Center Awards, which was pretty close to the top thing that has happened career-wise. I would say nothing in my mind and in my heart has topped the induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

20. Sometimes when I look at back at the last 25 years in country music, there's a feeling of something having been lost. Do you get that feeling?

Yeah, well, I don't get it for myself personally. I get it from the fans out there, the young fans in their 20's, that weren't born when some of the greatest country songs were written and recorded. I am just afraid they won't get to hear them all. A good song has a way of proving itself over and over; and the young artists coming along will dig into those old bins and find those jewels and re-record them. For instance, Reba doing "Fancy."

21 When I think about George Jones, Jim Reeves, Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, and you, and several other people, it always sounds like your generation, was just so much better. What's your thinking on that?

I don't believe that's true. I think there are as good of singers today as there were when I started, when I was coming up. I think a lot of them lose that personal "thing" by being overly influenced by Haggard or Lefty Frizzell. They wind up sounding more like Merle than they do themselves. But, there are some really fine artists that are unique, like Dwight Yoakam. I know he's influenced by Lefty and other people, but Dwight is Dwight, and there ain't nobody like him. He lets it come through. He's honest, he's got musical integrity. As long as we've got a few new ones coming along like Dwight did, although he's not new, then country music is safe.

22. How are you getting along with American Recordings? Are you happy?

Tickled to death. I'm doing everything I want to do with American Recordings. We've got two albums that I am proud of. We are talking about the next one possibly being a gospel or spiritual album, but it will be a very unusual spiritual or gospel album.

23. Are they the best record. company that you have ever worked with ?

Yes, they are by far. I loved it on Sun Records-that was fun-and some of the years on Columbia. But the years that I have been with American Recordings have been the best.

24. Let s talk about your performances over your whole career. Are there any that really stand out?

One of my favorite concerts I ever did was at the Palladium in London. That night they had a bomb warning. They emptied the building. We went back in, and people were a little uptight, and I tried harder. W e had a beautiful night. The show was recorded and released as an album in Europe. Another show that I remember fondly was the one at Folsom Prison that was recorded. Another of my favorites was the show for the Sioux Indians on Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, and a charity show I did for autistic children in Tennessee. I enjoyed that. So far as television, the show that I look back on the most was a show that I did in Washington at Ford's Theater where I talked about Lincoln and did the Gettysburg Address. The President w as sitting right straight down in front of me. That was a pretty high time.

25. What do you want to do that you haven't done?

More of the same, I guess. I don't have any unattainable heights. I just want to be a better performances. I found out the better I am, the happier I am. I want to be a good man.