This music variety show – hosted by Johnny Cash and recorded at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee (then home of the Grand Ole Opry) – aired on ABC between June 1969 and March 1971.
Regulars included members of Cash’s touring troupe, June Carter Cash (his wife) and the Carter Family, The Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, and The Tennessee Three, with Australian-born musical director-arranger-conductor Bill Walker.
During one episode in 1971, Cash began the show as normal. Moments after he had greeted the audience, June Carter Cash walked on and announced a special guest. Ralph Edwards then joined the two on stage.
As the audience stood in ovation, Cash realised it was actually a taping for an episode of This is Your Life honouring him.
CBS ran a revival of the show in 1976, called Johnny Cash and Friends. An annual Johnny Cash Christmas Special series also started in 1976, with specials airing almost every year until 1985.
The series featured many folk and country musicians, such as Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Kris Kristofferson, Neil Young, Merle Haggard, James Taylor and Tammy Wynette.
