WASHINGTON — Johnny Cash is set to make a historic appearance at the U.S. Capitol as a bronze statue will be unveiled in his honor.
The unveiling ceremony will take place on Tuesday, featuring Congressional leaders, Arkansas lawmakers, and members of the Cash family.
Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will join Arkansas’ congressional delegation along with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for this momentous occasion.
The statue of Cash marks the second new figure Arkansas has introduced to the U.S. Capitol, replacing two statues that have represented the state for over a century. Earlier this year, a statue honoring civil rights leader Daisy Bates was also unveiled. Bates played a pivotal role in mentoring the nine Black students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.
In 2019, Arkansas legislators voted to replace the prior statues depicting lesser-known historical figures with those of Bates and Cash.
The selection of Cash and Bates followed a debate among lawmakers considering various figures, including Walmart founder Sam Walton and a fallen Navy SEAL. Each state is permitted to donate two statues representing notable individuals for the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall Collection.
Born in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash was a legendary musician who passed away in 2003 at the age of 71. He sold over 90 million records globally, spanning genres like country, rock, blues, folk, and gospel. Notably, he is among the select few inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The statue proudly features Cash with a guitar slung over his back and a Bible in hand. Sculptor Kevin Kresse, known for creating other musical icons from Arkansas, has crafted this tribute to the “Man in Black.”
This unveiling will mark the most recent addition to the Capitol’s collection since the statue of Rev. Billy Graham from North Carolina was unveiled in May.
