Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash were the country music power couple. They tied the knot in 1968 and stayed together for the rest of their lives. However, their musical partnership goes back further than that. They started touring and singing together almost a decade before they became husband and wife.
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Cash and Carter started touring together in 1960. Four years later, Cash released their first duet, “It Ain’t Me Babe,” as a single from the album Orange Blossom Special. Three years later, in 1967, they released the duet album Carryin’ on with Johnny Cash and June Carter. That album gave the world several timeless duets and re-introduced “Jackson,” which became one of their most popular collaborations. Watch them perform it during an episode of The Johnny Cash Show below.
The date of the recording isn’t listed. However, Carter Cash mentions being largely absent from the show because she was at home caring for their son, John Carter Cash. He was born on March 3, 1970. So, the recording likely took place late in season one or the second and final season of the show. The performance is included on The Best of the Johnny Cash Show DVD.
Johnny Cash and June Carter Deliver Timeless Duets
Country music’s power couple released Carryin’ on with Johnny Cash and June Carter months before they were married. The album is packed with timeless duets, including three songs they wrote together. The couple penned “You’ll Be All Right,” “Oh What a Good Thing We Had,” and “Shantytown” for the album.
While the tracklist is full of proof that Johnny and June were a force to be reckoned with, none of the tracks on the album were as popular as “Jackson.” They regularly performed the song live and it has gone on to become one of their best-loved duets.
Cash first included “Jackson” on Greatest Hits, Vol. 1. The compilation album dropped in June 1967, two months before the duets album hit record store shelves. Cash released the track as the sole single from the collection. It peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
