Johnny Cash Statue Will Represent Arkansas at U.S. Capitol, Along With Civil Rights Leader Daisy Bates
Soon, the Man in Black will also be the Man in Stone: Johnny Cash is one of the illustrious Arkansas natives picked to represent the state in statue form in a U.S. Capitol display. Alongside Cash's statue will be the statue of Daisy Bates, an activist and writer who mentored the group of nine children who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.
According to the Associated Press, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed a bill into law on Thursday (April 11) that will exchange the state's current represented statues at the Capitol's National Statuary Hall Collection for the new honorees. The figures being switched out represent former Arkansas governor and senator James P. Clarke, as well as 19th century attorney Uriah Rose.
"He said quite often that he loved every rock, every tree, every clot of earth in Dyess, Ark.," Cash's daughter, country star Rosanne Cash, commented of the country legend's hometown in Arkansas. She added that the family was honored by the decision to include Cash in the Statuary Hall, and that the fact that his statue will be sharing the space with Bates' makes the recognition even more special. The families of the two honorees were both present at the signing ceremony of the new bill.
"This is an extraordinary moment recognizing the contributions of two incredible Arkansans," Hutchinson says. "We want our memories, through our statues, to tell the story of Arkansas. I believe our story is represented well by these two historic figures."
The legendary country icon died in September of 2003 at the age of 71, after a long and monumental country career that spanned back to 1955 with the release of his iconic debut single, "Hey Porter." He recorded over 100 albums and release more than 150 singles, including hits such as "Ring of Fire" and "Folsom Prison Blues."
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