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CNN Live Saturday
Thousands Pay Tribute To Johnny Cash
Aired September 13, 2003 - 12:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A day after the death of music icon Johnny Cash, legions of his fans are remembering "The Man in Black" in their own special way. Many are at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville to pay tribute. CNN's Ed Lavandera is there, as well -- Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka, the Cash family has been releasing the details of Johnny Cash's funeral services that will be held starting tomorrow. There will be a viewing on Sunday, funeral services held on Monday, but those will be private events. The Cash family asking for privacy in what they describe as very -- a difficult times for them. So, there are plans, however, for a public memorial, for everyone, legions of fans, as you mentioned, to pay tribute to Johnny Cash for his music and his contributions to American society and pop culture. But, those plans for a public memorial have not been set, just yet, but they say that will happen, indeed. There have been hundreds of fans coming to the Country Music Hall of Fame to pay tribute to Johnny Cash and to also learn more about his life. The plaque here, at the Hall of Fame, draped in black cloth and surrounded by red roses and also, fans have been able to sign a remembrance book that is just underneath the plaque, the museum saying that that remembrance book will be forwarded on to his family at some point. And as you might imagine, the tributes continue to pour in.
The "Tennessean," the newspaper here, in Nashville, describing Johnny Cash as a "Force of nature. An iconic elemental figure, more granite, and fire than flesh and blood. He was a political activist, a genre blending innovator -- and the embodiment of just well-aged cool." That's what a lot of people -- the sentiments capturing -- what a lot of people think of Johnny Cash.
And, we spoke with a historian here, at the museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum, who says Johnny Cash's influence, not only on the country music world, he's seen as a patriarch and someone who will be terribly missed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY ORR, HISTORIAN, COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME: But, he was a patriarch, too, to the entire industry. I think people looked up to him as sort-of a father figure, someone who stood for dignity, who could be trusted with wisdom -- to show wisdom and who was -- who was making art that he believed in. And, that's sort of a benchmark for others to work for. I think we've lost that.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LAVANDERA: So again, private funeral services well be held, a viewing on Sunday, the funeral service on Monday. Those will be private events and there are plans for a public memorial service to remember Johnny Cash -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Ed Lavandera, from Nashville. Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 13, 2003 - 12:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A day after the death of music icon Johnny Cash, legions of his fans are remembering "The Man in Black" in their own special way. Many are at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville to pay tribute. CNN's Ed Lavandera is there, as well -- Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka, the Cash family has been releasing the details of Johnny Cash's funeral services that will be held starting tomorrow. There will be a viewing on Sunday, funeral services held on Monday, but those will be private events. The Cash family asking for privacy in what they describe as very -- a difficult times for them. So, there are plans, however, for a public memorial, for everyone, legions of fans, as you mentioned, to pay tribute to Johnny Cash for his music and his contributions to American society and pop culture. But, those plans for a public memorial have not been set, just yet, but they say that will happen, indeed. There have been hundreds of fans coming to the Country Music Hall of Fame to pay tribute to Johnny Cash and to also learn more about his life. The plaque here, at the Hall of Fame, draped in black cloth and surrounded by red roses and also, fans have been able to sign a remembrance book that is just underneath the plaque, the museum saying that that remembrance book will be forwarded on to his family at some point. And as you might imagine, the tributes continue to pour in.
The "Tennessean," the newspaper here, in Nashville, describing Johnny Cash as a "Force of nature. An iconic elemental figure, more granite, and fire than flesh and blood. He was a political activist, a genre blending innovator -- and the embodiment of just well-aged cool." That's what a lot of people -- the sentiments capturing -- what a lot of people think of Johnny Cash.
And, we spoke with a historian here, at the museum, the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum, who says Johnny Cash's influence, not only on the country music world, he's seen as a patriarch and someone who will be terribly missed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY ORR, HISTORIAN, COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME: But, he was a patriarch, too, to the entire industry. I think people looked up to him as sort-of a father figure, someone who stood for dignity, who could be trusted with wisdom -- to show wisdom and who was -- who was making art that he believed in. And, that's sort of a benchmark for others to work for. I think we've lost that.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LAVANDERA: So again, private funeral services well be held, a viewing on Sunday, the funeral service on Monday. Those will be private events and there are plans for a public memorial service to remember Johnny Cash -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Ed Lavandera, from Nashville. Thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
