Resting in Peace - Visiting the Graves of Johnny & June Cash
October 30, 2023
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Hendersonville, Tennessee is a fairly large city on Old Hickory Lake near Nashville. It is listed as one of the best places to live in the state of Tennessee.
It's such a powerful observation, and there’s something deeply humbling about standing at the resting place of someone who once moved the world in some way by being famous, influential, and even legendary, and realizing just how quiet it all becomes in the end. Just a simple stone. A name. A dash.
Often, there's no one else there. No crowds. No fanfare. It’s such a strong reminder that fame fades, and what lasts isn’t the spotlight, but the lives we touched, the love we gave, and the stories we leave behind.
It's those moments at the gravesites that whisper, “What are you doing with your dash?” Not in a loud, flashy way, but with the kind of stillness that stirs your soul.
Hendersonville is known as the “city by the lake” and has been home to many famous people.
Many country music stars own homes on the lake, including the late Johnny Cash, who had a large 14,000-square-foot home on the water. Hendersonville was close enough to Nashville for Johnny to work, record, and be part of the music scene, but it was far enough away to offer quiet, space, and privacy. Here he was surrounded by nature and beauty. It was a peaceful retreat from the demands of fame.
We visited the graves of Johnny and June Cash inside the humble Hendersonville Memory Gardens. There is nothing special about the site. Anyone can visit by just pulling into the driveway, parking along the path, and walking to the graves. We were the only ones there.
No signs or markers are showing the way. I found it simply by following the GPS on my phone.
After Johnny and June passed away in 2003, they were buried side by side in Hendersonville Memory Gardens. The gravesite is simple and unassuming but filled with meaning. Several other Cash and Carter family members are buried nearby.
One in particular is Mother Maybelle Carter. Mother Maybelle Carter was an absolute legend in American music. She was often called the "Mother of Country Music." She was a founding member of the original Carter Family, one of the first and most influential groups in country music history.
Also close by is the grave of Merle Kilgore, an American singer, songwriter, and manager. At the time of his death, he was the manager of Hank Williams, Jr.
Finally, we found the grave of Luther Perkins, who was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for Johnny Cash.
We will never be able to see everything but when we are in an area, I like to find several places to visit. I hope you enjoy coming along for the ride. Have you ever been to Hendersonville, Tennessee?