News reports or official statements from the U.S. Capitol

8-Foot Johnny Cash Statue Unveiled at U.S. Capitol, First Musician Honored by Arkansas

Sep 24, 2024, 06:43 PM

A statue of Johnny Cash, the iconic 'Man in Black,' was unveiled at the U.S. Capitol on September 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. Eastern. The eight-foot bronze statue, which depicts Cash holding a guitar and a Bible, was contributed by the state of Arkansas and is now part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. This marks the first time a professional musician has been honored with a statue in the Capitol. The unveiling ceremony, held in Emancipation Hall, was attended by congressional leaders, Arkansas lawmakers, and members of the Cash family, including his sister Joanne Cash, who is blind and spent several minutes touching the statue. The statue replaces one of two Arkansas figures, Uriah Rose and James Clarke, both from the Civil War and Reconstruction era, and joins another new statue of Daisy Bates. The event was live-streamed and featured speeches by notable figures, including Speaker Johnson, highlighting Cash's deep faith, his contributions to music, and his lasting legacy.