Former Home of Johnny Cash Burns

Johnny Cash

April 11, 2007 — The Tennessean reports that the historic home Johnny Cash and wife June Carter Cash lived in until their deaths burned Tuesday afternoon.

The home on Caudill Drive in Hendersonville was in the final stages of renovation by its new owner, singer-songwriter Barry Gibb. Gibb purchased the home in January 2006 and, according to singer T.G. Sheppard, planned to move in around July 4 of this year.

"We just called Barry on the phone and told him the house was burning," T.G. said. "He didn't know. He is at his home in Miami."

"I just can't talk right now," said Tommy Cash, brother of Johnny, as he watched the lakeside house burn.

The paper reports that spectators lined the roadway as they watched a part of the city and the music industry's history burn.

"I've been in this house many times with Johnny and June. This is just devastating," said Oak Ridge Boys member William Lee Golden, who, along with his wife Brenda, stood on the hillside across the street from the Cash home.

Fire officials have not determined a cause for the blaze. The house was built in 1968 and was the home for the country music couple for 35 years.

Joanne Cash, Johnny's sister, said, "Of course we are all in a state of shock. I feel that an era has passed. Just today in prayer, I had decided to move on, even discarding old newspaper clippings not realizing that this terrible thing would happen. My prayers are with the Cash family and especially the Gibb family during this time."