Who Inherited from the Estate of Johnny Cash?

Legendary country musician Johnny Cash fathered five children but structured his will in a way that heavily favored only one of them, sparking decades of family litigation.

The Family Background

Cash served in the Air Force, where he formed his first musical group with friends. He married his first wife, Vivian, in 1954, and they had four daughters together: Rosanne (born 1955), Kathleen, Cindy, and Tara. The couple divorced in 1966.

Later, Cash met June Carter Cash, a fellow musician who played a pivotal role in his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. They married in 1968 and had one son together: John Carter Cash. June brought two additional children from a previous marriage – Rosie and Carlene.

The Estate and Initial Distribution

Cash accumulated a fortune estimated between $60 million and $100 million during his prolific career. Before his death, he finalized his estate plans, and the assets subsequently grew to approximately $300 million. In his will, he gave each of his four daughters from his first marriage just $1 million each. The bulk of his wealth and assets, however, went to his son with June.

The “Ring of Fire” Dispute

The central issue dividing the family concerns the song “Ring of Fire,” released in 1963 – five years before Cash and June married. The track was officially credited to three writers: Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and Merle Kilgore.

Since John Carter Cash was the only biological child Cash shared with June, he became the sole beneficiary of the song’s substantial royalties. His four sisters from his first marriage received nothing from this income stream, despite their father’s earlier involvement with their mother.

Different accounts exist regarding how June received writing credit. According to some reports, Cash allegedly told his first wife that he granted June “half credit” because she needed financial assistance. Other sources suggest that during his divorce proceedings with Vivian, Cash added June’s name to shield the composition from being entirely associated with him personally. Regardless of the circumstances, the three credited writers remained official.

The Legal Battle

Cash’s daughters eventually sued their brother, demanding access to royalties from the hit song. The case proceeded through the legal system but ultimately failed in 2007. The daughters lost their lawsuit, leaving John Carter Cash as the publishing rights holder for at least a significant portion of their father’s extensive musical catalog.

The outcome illustrated how estate planning decisions and intellectual property rights can create lasting family divisions, particularly when inheritances are structured to benefit some children over others.

If you want to ensure your estate plan treats your loved ones fairly and avoids family conflict, contact The Stegall Law Firm today to schedule a consultation.