NEW YORK (AP) &emdash; His voice clear and strong singing "Folsom Prison Blues,'' Johnny Cash returned to the spotlight after a year of illness kept him from performing.

"My first time on stage in 19 months,'' Cash said Tuesday night at the climax of a concert that paid tribute to his work. "It feels good, it feels good, it feels good.''

TNT taped the all-star show, which featured Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, U2, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris and Wyclef Jean, for a special to air April 18. Cash's appearance in Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom was unannounced.

There was some question if he'd ever make it on stage again. Cash, 67, has Shy-Drager Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that causes progressive damage to the nervous system.

All seven of Cash's children attended Tuesday's taping. His wife, June Carter Cash, sang "Ring of Fire'' and remembered writing it with Johnny when they fell in love. "He was kind of scary at that time,'' she said.

Each performer paid sartorial tribute to "The Man in Black'' by dressing in the color.

Near the show's end, the lights dimmed and actor Tim Robbins read a Cash essay about life in prison. The lights rose to reveal the author on stage, breaking into song after his traditional introduction: "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash.'' Cash was tanned, his hair thinner since he last appeared in public. His baritone was sturdy as ever in singing "Folsom Prison Blues'' and "I Walk the Line.''

He gripped his wife's hand and briefly appeared to choke up on the line, "I'll admit that I'm a fool for you.'' He stood with eyes closed to soak up the audience's standing ovation.

Fellow country renegade Nelson said the stage is where Cash needed to be.

"Get that bus warmed up,'' he said. "The Highwaymen are ready to do it again if you are.''