Keep on the Sunny Side: A Motto to Last a Lifetime

Belmont Vision Multimedia. (Haley Ramsey)

John Carter Cash, the only son of Johnny and June Cash, came to Belmont for a special WELL-Core seminar to celebrate his father’s life through stories and music.

The event started with a quick introduction about John Carter Cash, and then dove into the musical legacy of both the Carter family and the Cash family.

For some, these families have influenced their lives not only personally, but professionally.

“I had the great privilege of getting to know John Carter at around 25 years old, and have known him all of my professional career, and know his sweet family,” dean of Curb College Brittany Schaffer said.

There is much more to these musical phenomena than people may think. They had their struggles, but somehow were always tied together with an invisible string.

“My dad grew up without electricity,” Cash said. “They had an old silver tone radio they gathered around… and listened to the songs of the Carter family.”

Johnny Cash’s life had many ups and downs, with music being a constant through it all.

With hits like “Ring of Fire,” “Walk the Line” and “Hurt,” he became a musical sensation that affected his family in many ways as well.

“My parents traveled the road. They brought me with them everywhere they went,” Cash said. “By the time I was one month old, I had slept in the White House for a nap. By the time I was nine months old, I had been bathed in the Dead Sea in Israel.”

Throughout his travels, John Carter Cash not only saw his father soaking up the spotlight, but also got the chance to help with his recordings in the studio.

“I was there with Dad recording in the studio from when he began what was ‘American III: Solitary Man,’ up until the very last session he ever did,” Cash said.

But despite all of the glitz and glamour, Johnny Cash faced many hardships in his life.

He went through a divorce in the 60s, he was dropped by his label in the 80s and June Cash, his greatest love, his wife, died in 2003.

But throughout it all, he persevered and made music his outlet for all of the pain he felt.

“It was a beautiful thing that in the face of adversary, that in the face of pain and struggle, whatever he went through that he wound up getting back up,” Cash said.

Even for those who were not as familiar with Johnny Cash or his family, the event was impactful as well.

“I've never heard of Johnny Cash,” freshman songwriting major, Samara Raju, said. “It was really sweet to hear his story about how he was growing up, grew up on tour, and how he saw the love between his parents and the relationship between him and his family and everything.”

Not only was his music inspiring, but the stories he told created a defining personality to Johnny Cash’s character, like when he sang at a prison in order to make the inmates feel seen.

“I really enjoyed the part talking about… performing in the prison to help people that everyone shut out and the love he just put out into his life,” freshman Cate Pomeroy said.

By the end of the event, John Carter Cash advised the students of Belmont to love unconditionally, keep on the sunny side of life and live creatively.

“Whether there was pain or joy, whether there was hope or falter, creativity was his bread — his daily bread,” Cash said. “And I feel like most of you guys… can choose that daily bread. We can choose the light. We can choose to… try to find one thing to be creative with every day. And if I do that, I feel like I've had a successful day. I learned that from my dad.”

Written by Ava Burns