Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon

by Greg Laurie

A deep dive into the Man in Black's demons, triumphs, and ultimate road back to faith by a celebrated pastor and best-selling author. A national bestseller in hardcover.

Join Greg Laurie, pastor and bestselling author of Steve The Salvation of an American Icon, as he takes you on a personal journey into the life and legend of Johnny Cash.

At the peak of his career, Cash had done it all—living the ultimate rags-to-riches story of growing up on a cotton farm in the Deep South to becoming a Nashville and Hollywood sensation, singing alongside heroes like Elvis Presley and performing for several American presidents.

But through all of this, Cash was troubled. By the time he released the iconic Man in Black album in 1971, the middle-aged icon was broken down, hollow-eyed, and wrung out.

In his search for peace, Cash became embroiled in controversy. He was arrested five times in seven years. His drug- and alcohol-induced escapades led to car accidents and a forest fire that devastated 508 acres. His time was divided between Jesus and jail, gospel tunes and the “Cocaine Blues.”

But by the end of his life, Cash was speaking openly about his “unshakeable faith.” What caused the superstar to turn from his conflicting passions to embrace a life in Christ?

Johnny The Redemption of an American Icon dives deep into the singer’s inner demons, triumphs, and gradual return to faith. Laurie interviews Cash’s family, friends, and business associates to reveal how the singer’s true success came through finding the only Person whose star was bigger than his own.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction, Christian, History, Religion, Faith

368 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2019

About the author

Greg Laurie is an American author and pastor who serves as the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, Harvest Corona in Corona, California Harvest Woodcrest in Riverside, California, Harvest at Kumulani in Kapalua, Hawaii, and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, California.

Reviews

[Neal Bringe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought the book to give as a gift. I took the opportunity to read some it and could not put it down. What an incredible life of calling, trials, grace, redemption and service. It was especially well told by Pastor Greg Laurie because of the wisdom sprinkled throughout the book.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way that the author keeps telling you about his own life story is really annoying but the last few chapters about the end of Johnny’s life where he was working with Rick Rubin are fascinating,

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

If you are an American conservative evangelical Christian and you have an interest in Johnny Cash, then friend this is the book for you. If you are not, look elsewhere.

This was not a very good book. The author is a fan of Cash and I get the feeling he yearns to have been a close friend. I get the feeling that simply being a fan wasn't enough. Oh yeah, and the author is a pastor in a megachurch. So this book is littered with passages from the Bible. All a bit off-putting to someone who decidedly does not follow such teachings.

The author also sprinkles in a few of his own experiences from his life, which was a big confusing and kind of distracting, taking away from the narrative. The constant call backs to the author's work on Steve McQueen were also unnecessary. I've read many books on Cash at this point and this is the first one that mentions McQueen's name. Just unnecessary filler if you ask me.

I own a first edition hardcover of this book and on the cover it has a rather odd announcement "Soon to be a documentary film." Was this book written simply so the author can make a documentary? I don't know, again all very weird.

The books spouts the classic myths about Cash's life (the famous Nickajack Cave story for example) which have been debunked or downplayed in other, better biographies on Cash's life. It also seems to take sides when it comes to Cash's first marriage, vilifying June Carter and half buying into the myth that Cash actually wrote "Ring of Fire". One of his main sources in this regard is Vivian Cash's memoir and that book is a notably hatchet job as far as I can tell. Not a reliable source. Other sources used in the book were impeccable, not sure why this one was leaned on so heavily.

I learned a few interesting tidbits, but I spent a lot of time rolling my eyes while reading this. I do not recommend this book to anyone, unless you 100% fit the into the category I opened this review with. Then this is the Cash book for you!

[ElaineY · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this biography even though I'm not a Johnny cash fan. As a Christian I was bothered by Cash's seemingly easy acceptance of his adulterous affair with June Carter. I say "seemingly" because, perhaps, the author is a huge fan and didn't want to make too much of this. Which is also unsettling for me because Laurie is a pastor. I just find it hard to accept quoting Scripture, as Cash did, claim to love the Lord, as Cash did, and carry on an affair, knowing it was hurting his wife.

Anyway, I didn't know much about Cash and now I do. I just don't think Laurie was totally honest.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked reading about the life of Johnny Cash. I have to admit I was skeptical when I saw this book was written by a right-wing evangelical who claimed Franklin Graham as a lifelong friend. But the interviews and stories give a great overview of cash’s life, music and struggles. One criticism I have is the author, who is a pastor of a mega-church, inserts his own story a bit too much for my taste, and the repeated mentions of his other book about Steve McQueen get old. I am a Christian, but I also thought the “alter call” in the epilogue was pretty cheesy. But if you are interested in the life of Johnny Cash, this book is a decent place to start.

[Rick · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give it less than one star I would. It’s actually my fault that I only read a tiny portion of this book. I picked it up really cheap on a bargain shelf at the local book store. I have always been a Johnny Cash fan & on the surface it looked like a cheap way to learn more about his life. I have never heard of Greg Laurie & took a cursory look at Goodreads and saw a high rating. I should have read a few reviews. I read more about scripture in the opening chapters than I did about Johnny Cash. My fault, but not what I wanted so I put it down. At least it was a cheap mistake.

[LAMONT D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly, worth reading as you get the whole story of his iconic life from our author who throws in every now and again his personal reflection plus biblical illustrations and scripture. I never paid enough attention in the past to his multiple comeback efforts and the tremendous struggle that Cash had with his addictions. What a story but in the end, it appears to have been a happy ending and gives hope to any that have left a lot on the table of life because of the worldly treasures that do not last nor fulfill our void of being love and needed.

[Kori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read Man in Black instead.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

While most casual fans barely glimpse behind Johnny Cash’s rebel persona, the prison concerts, numerous run-ins with the law, marital infidelities, rampant drug indulgences and general brokenness that marred Cash’s early (and later) career, Laurie’s book peels back the more sordid details of Cash’s life to display the steady hand of God at work in a troubled servant’s life. This book is a haunting and fascinating portrait of Cash at the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, battling countless demons in glittering fame and abject poverty, yet faithfully clinging to and ultimately finding his ultimate redemption through his Savior Jesus Christ. Very highly recommended.

[Jim Lehman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this is one of the worst books I have ever read. I was terribly disappointed because I was so excited to read this book. I love Johnny Cash's music and I have enjoyed reading other biographies about him. This was supposed to be a spiritual biography, and while the emphasis is on his spiritual life, I could not accept the author's theological premises. He writes from an Arminian perspective, so his explanation that Cash was a Christian most of his life, but lived in an un-Christian way, was just due to his own "backsliding". However, from a scriptural perspective, the best assessment is that Cash's life, for the most part, did not bear out the fruit of a true Christian commitment. That does not mean that Cash wasn't a Christian at all--he may well have been near the end of his life. However, to suggest that Cash was a Christian but lived willfully in the throes of drug addiction and marital unfaithfulness just abandons any proper understanding of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition, the research seemed sloppy as it relied on a couple of other biographies of Cash and a couple of interviews with family members and friends rather than a real research effort using primary sources. And the writing itself is just not very good.

[ThePrill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having previously read Greg Laurie's 'biography' of Steve McQueen, I expected many of the same shortcomings, and surprisingly, I found this one to be even poorer than the previous one.

1) All the filler material, personal and otherwise
Laurie is obsessed with comparison in his books, comparison that does not exist. He compares his own life to Johnny Cash's because they both took drugs and lost a close member of their family. If that is the benchmark for being similar to Cash, about half of the world's population can claim the same. Laurie comes off as a fan who is only too willing to dismiss the shortcomings of Cash, so this book comes off as more of a commentary on Cash's life than a biography.

Perhaps even more absurdly, there is often a callback to how similar Johnny Cash and Steve McQueen. This is not a comparison that most sane people would make, and it begs strongly that Laurie is trying to plug his other book. Again, he bases this comparison on the two having taken drugs and, get this, having been in the same town once. Incredible. I struggle to see the similarity he stresses, and the material would have been better left out, as it adds nothing to the plot.

2) The author's theological perspective
I find Laurie very difficult to take seriously, based on his theological point of view. He contradicts himself, by nature of his theology, and the book is really more of an indictment on his own religion than Johnny Cash's. He harps on about being a Christian being a decision that 'you have to make' and only 'you can do' and then says that only God can redeem. He refers again and again to Cash's backsliding, a continuous feature of his life, but never once considers that Cash might not have been a Christian during most of his life. Matthew 7 lays out a brilliant oration by Jesus that, in sum, says that you shall know if a man truly knows Christ as Lord by the fruit he bears, that a good man cannot produce bad works and an evil man cannot produce good works. Looking at a hefty portion of Cash's life, you can say that he bore bad works. Laurie forgoes the Gospel by suggesting that a man failing to love his wife and deep in drug addiction is a man redeemed.

3) The incoherent passage of time
This is perhaps a minor quibble, but I so often had to go back pages and pages to found out what year the events were set in, because Laurie bounces from the present to the past and future and back again. It doesn't make any sense to write this way, considering the biographical nature Laurie is meant to be pursuing, and it detracts from the book.

Overall, you are better off finding another biography of Cash rather than this one. Laurie even mentions some in this book, and I would have been better off reading one of those as well.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have guessed from the subtitle that this book was centered itself around the religious aspects of the Johnny Cash's life but I really did not think of it.

That being said, the overall book is quite well done and the author does not sugar coat anything or pull any punches. Cash is presented in all his glory and failings. Laurie really does a good job of presenting a balance of the good and the bad that was the life of Johnny Cash. You can really feel the struggle that he went through trying to be a good man while at the same time seemingly throwing all care to the wind.

The details in the book leave no bones about it that Cash faced an internal battle all this life. His career, just like his personal life, had its ups and downs. In this book they are all laid to bare.

The one thing I took away from this book was that Cash should have been dead many, many times over. Whether by luck or the grace of God (depending on your respective beliefs) there were so many incidents that should have been the end but somehow he survived.

My parents were Cash fans and I had a chance to see him in concert at a state fair. It was a great show. I was a young kid but remember the towering presence he was on the stage. It was a little sad to read that he was doing this during one of the down swings in his career and this was his attempt to remain relevant.

The book closes out with two parts. The first being his revival at the end of his life. His cover albums introducing his to a whole new generation. He literally went to his grave at a career high. What a way to go out. The second is a examination of the conflict between his attempt to be a good Christian and what his life actually was. I can only describe this as a profound conflict that makes Cash seem even more immense that we all perceived him to be.

[Meg C · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Therein lies the paradox of Johnny Cash. He was a sinner and a saint." This book is a masterpiece. It is one of the best books I have ever read. This story of Cash's life is not a biography. It is more than that. Laurie is a pastor and an author so when I first started this book I had mixed feelings about looking at the life of Johnny Cash through the lens of his Christian faith. As I continued the book, I realized that it is the ONLY lens to look at Johnny's life in a way that encapsulates the contradiction that was Cash. He was more than a rebel who made good music. He was a drug addict who never truly recovered. He was both a faithful, and an unfaithful husband. He had run-ins with the law. And he was also someone very much shaped by the loss of his brother and the anger of his father. Through all of that, he cared deeply about others, as shown by his passion for prison reform, charity, and speaking out against the Vietnam war. Even at the lowest point in his amphetamine addiction he could be seen playing gospel music and encouraging people to read the Bible. Some might call this hypocritical, but Laurie sees it as the life of a man who never stopped trying to redeem himself. Cash had his highs and lows in life but through all of it, he remained authentic and never stopped trying to live out his values even if he was way off many times.

The nuance of Johnny Cash's life is essentially omitted from other biographical works like the movie "Walk the Line" and other biographies that seek to merely recount the events of his life. Laurie's book aims to peel back the facade and give this icon the analysis his life deserves.

[Randy Hass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally blown away by the quality of this biography of a true American legend. It is written from the perspective of his development of Christian values in a very secular world. It traces his life from his birth in Dyess Arkansas and the early turning point in his life, the loss of his older brother in a gruesome sawmill accident.

Jack was a very religious young man and it appears these values carried over to Johnny. He would be forever haunted by Jacks death and this was source of many of his demons.

His musical career is an awesome story of one who never loses sight of his goal. But the ensuing fame puts enormous strains on Johnny and his first wife Vivian. I won’t spoil the story, but suffice it to say that God never gave up on Johnny Cash and stayed with him through thick and thin. Johnny may have strayed due to the drugs he took thinking initially it would enhance his career. But as I said, God stayed with him through the hills and valleys of an incredible career.

This is a wonderful read and the best part is you can find all the referenced music on the radio. He was an incredible artist and his music would always touch you, unless you were dead.

Read this book. You will not be disappointed.

[Tim Chavel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about Johnny Cash. His life was a mess. He had a great opportunity to have a bigger Kingdom impact but allowed the world (flesh) to control his life too many times.

Here are a few quotes from the book:

There is more power in a mother’s hand than in a king’s scepter. ~Billy Graham

If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. ~C.S. Lewis

All the things that ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of Heaven. Tantalizing glimpses, promises never quite fulfilled, echoes that died away just as they caught your ear . . . If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world . . . Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. ~C.S. Lewis

Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting on the rat to die. ~Anne Lamott

When you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free . . . yourself! ~ Greg Laurie

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like insight to Johnny Cash’s life.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars After listening to Greg Laurie talk about his new book on the Eric Metaxis Podcast, I knew it was something I would be interested in. Johnny Cash was on TV when I was young, and I can remember my grandma sternly saying to me that he had been in jail before. Of course, at the time, I had no comprehension of grace, redemption, salvation, and the hope that Jesus Christ provides. But the man on the TV screen did. This book is a page turner. The most valuable attribute is the well-explained battle Johnny had between pursuing God and running his life into the ground with drug use. You could feel the torment and the battle he was under as you turn the pages. Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble, but take hope, I have overcome the world.” We all experience hardship and trials of many kinds. With Christ, we know that this is not all their is for us. Johnny, undoubtedly understood this too. But he represents the real struggle we are all under- wanting to do the right thing, but having a natural bent to do just the opposite. Reading this book leaves you with encouragement and hope in your own struggles. Johnny was the real deal.

[Joe Keefhaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until reading this book, I wasn't aware of how low Cash's personal life and musical career had fallen at times. Laurie admits to being a huge fan of Cash, and I wondered at times if he wasn't stretching to see a commitment to Christian faith by the singer. His treatment of his first wife, Vivian, and their children was hard to read. It was startling to learn that Cash was still abusing drugs while associated with the Billy Graham crusades. It was also surprising to learn that his second wife, June, and their son, John Carter Cash, also had their own drug problems even after witnessing what had happened to Johnny. I suppose this goes to show all humans are flawed and that complete and triumphant turnarounds following religious conversions don't always occur. Perhaps it is harmful to the cause of Christianity to act as if they do.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An affecting entry about The Man In Black. Greg Laurie is appreciated for writing it. As a big fan of Johnny Cash (I've visited his childhood home in Dyess, The Johnny Cash museum in Nashville, watched Walk the Line, read both of his autobiographies in addition to bios by Marshall Grant, Robert Hilburn, and Johnny's son, John Carter, seen three or four Cash documentaries, etc.) I highly recommend reading this one. It unabashedly focuses on the spiritual side of Johnny's life without being corny or whitewashed. Facts and stories about the Christian, the rebel, the patriot, the musician, the activist, and the family man are all present to give a holistic view of the greatest artist of all time.

Give it a read and you'll be laying your head down all the wiser for doing so.

Godspeed.

[Aaron Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this book from Greg Laurie’s podcasts and wanted to read it. I was able to borrow this from a friend and found it to be a great book. It was a very readable biography of Johnny Cash, but with a very strong and effective emphasis on his faith in Christ.

The way I look at this celebrity is that he was a Christian and he felt called of God to be a pastor. However, fame and popularity were ultimately more important to him and he never entered ministry in a local church. He had far more struggles and temptations to deal with because of the worldly path he chose for his career. His last song, “Hurt,” has no mention of the gospel or God. Really a sad story and testimony. He could have done so much more.

Overall I recommend this book, very well written.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greg Laurie relates the story of Country ( and Rock ) icon Johnny Cash from his poor Southern cotton field upbringing to his rise to fame and all the drama that happened in between relating the wins, losses, tragedies, drama, booze, pills, battles, wars and peace that Cash went through in becoming the biggest country legend ever.
Laurie, a Senior Pastor, inter-weaves the story using biblical passages and Cash's faith as the building block and to some this could come off as being preachy. But faith in Jesus and God is what sustained Cash throughout his life and Laurie himself dealt with the demons of drugs himself so he knew were Cash was coming from.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not your typical Johnny Cash biography, but it focuses rather on his spiritual journey. It isn't exactly chronological but it covers his life from beginning to end. There are a lot of things I learned about Johnny I hadn't previously known. I'm not going to mention them because I would rather you read the book yourself. It will show you God can use anyone and no matter how many times we stumble and fall, the thing that matters most is not giving up and always keeping your faith in God. Johnny led a lot of people to Jesus and I can't wait to meet him in heaven. Whether you're a Johnny Cash fan or not, read the book. If you aren't a fan now, you will be after reading.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m received this book as a gift from my son as we both have an admiration for Johnny Cash...each in a different way. After reading this book I find myself similar to Johnny. I walk the line daily and have complete faith in my lord and savior. My heart breaks when I sin...I feel I fail God daily, but know he loves me and knows I am trying. As I get older, I come closer to God as did Mr Cash. Greg Laurie hit the mark on this book. I believe it will open people up to realize that no matter how “big” someone may be, they have the same demons as those of us “normal” folks. LoL. Thanks Mr. Laurie

[Graeme · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been many books written about the life of johnny cash by himself & others. The emphasis here is on his spiritual journey & as the title says, his redemption. He reached the pinnacle of world wide stardom but along the way fell into the temptations that come with fame and money. This book weaves together cash's life as a performer, a son, a husband, father & friend. Relationships with people and with God rose and fell throughout his life and he suffered towards the end from the extremes of his lifestyle habits. Although the books speaks of Cash's life, it's the story of everyman and the desire to discover identity and meaning in life.

[Donnie Rea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, I prayed. This book touched every part of me. This one took me longer than I normally spend on a book because I wanted to savor every page. It was absolutely amazing. I have never really been a fan of Johnny Cash, although I never really wasn't a fan. I just never gave him a chance. This changed my perspective of The Man in Black. Greg Laurie's eye opening perspective of Cash's relationship with Jesus changed the way I see him. I have read 2 of Laurie's books. The first being Jesus Revolution, another amazing read. A must read if you haven't had the chance yet. Both of these are must-reads.

[Angela Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written. I have always been a fan of Johnny Cash. I have also admired and enjoyed Greg Laurie's work for many years. This book seems to have been written just for me! But on an unbiased note, the facts and information in this book are fresh and untainted by idol worship or judgment. It was an enjoyable read, as well as informative. I found myself saying "I didn't know that!" many times. Greg Laurie's non-aggresive manner of substantiating Cash's unwavering faith makes for a comfortable read even to those who may not share his faith. There is a lot to learn here, and it isn't all just dates and names. I highly recommend it to everyone.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly moving read. Johnny Cash's spiritual journey is inspiring. I found myself going back and listening to all of the American session songs as I was reading the last few chapters and being moved by them in ways I never experienced before. Knowing the spiritual motivation behind them gives them a poignancy that I have not experienced before. Watching his video for his cover of Hurt gave me goosebumps after reading about the production of it. A Legend, an Inspiration, and a true child of God....this is a must read! If you don't know Johnny Cash, you better get familiar, there is no excuse.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnny Cash sang songs so you FELT them --- mind, body and Soul. Greg Laurie wrote about The Man in Black the same way. You feel his triumphs, his sorrows, his highs {figuratively and self induced}, and his lows.
This book gave many new insights into the man, the Artist, the LEGAND! It is the first book I have ever read that actually brought tears to my eyes.

This book will now be part of my FOREVER collection: The Bible, Lord of the Rings, Mere Christianity, The Walking Drum, and Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon.

[Walker Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friend gave me this book with the knowledge of how much I LOVE Johnny Cash.

I stopped reading the book on page 36 when I realized it was not a biography about Johnny Cash. But rather an evangelical preacher's personal and biased spin on the spiritual journey of Johnny Cash.

For me, a loving relationship with Christ is special and authentic for each individual. I am not sure if an outsider should ever try to define that relationship or imbue their theology and religion into that person's journey with God...

[Bob Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book describing Johnny Cash's life journey from a spiritual standpoint. Johnny was proud to be a follower of Jesus and set an example for others time after time. It is a bit of a slow read with quite a bit of scripture quoted throughout the story line, but having lived in the same city as Johnny and June for nearly 25 years (Hendersonville, TN), attended the same church, and visited the Cash Gift Shop decades ago, and chatted with Johnny's mother as she greeted customers at the shop, I could relate to the story on many levels.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man Comes Around

I have read all of Pastor Greg’s books with the exception of this one. I have been a fan of Cash for years and when this book came out on the heals of the Steve McQueen effort I was excited to read it. For some reason, I never did until this week.

God’s timing is always right. It was just what I needed for the season in which I find myself. Gritty, honest, and and real, just like Cash himself, pastor Greg did an honor to Johnny’s career and legacy. John R Cash is one person I will look for when I go home to heaven.