It's been four years since Country legend June Carter Cash died of complications from heart surgery. Her husband of 35 years, Johnny Cash, lost his battle with diabetes less than four months later. June and Johnny's only child has just released an album and book that pay homage to his late mother. VOA's Mary Morningstar has more on "Anchored In Love: A Tribute To June Carter Cash."
Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson's recording of "If I Were A Carpenter" is among 12 songs on Anchored In Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash. All of the album's tracks were either written or performed by June during her five decades in Country music. They include new versions of hit duets she recorded with Johnny Cash and a few songs made famous by the legendary Carter Family.
The final album June recorded before her death in 2003 was Wildwood Flower. Long-time friend Loretta Lynn honors June with her version of the Grammy-winning album's title track.
Anchored In Love was conceived and produced by John Carter Cash, the only child of June and Johnny Cash.
John Carter calls the tribute album "a labor of love." Featured are some of June's close musical friends, as well as Johnny's daughter Rosanne Cash, and Carlene Carter, June's daughter with first husband Carl Smith. Carlene teamed with Brooks and Dunn lead singer Ronnie Dunn on "Jackson," a song June recorded as a duet with Johnny Cash in 1967.
John Carter recently completed June's first biography, Anchored In Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash. The book was released the same day as the tribute album.
John says, "I hope through these pages people may come to know my mother in some of the ways I have known her. Though they may read of her pain, they will see her strength and beauty most of all."
