On July 5, 2003, Johnny Cash gave his final public live performance, a 30-minute set at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Va.
Although visibly frail (he needed help walking from a wheelchair to a chair in front of the mic), the legend was in good spirits. Cash uttered his usual show-opening greeting Hello, I m Johnny Cash in his familiar deep voice, and grinned as the audience clapped wildly. I m glad to see you folks, he continued. Thanks for coming to see our show.
Cash, who strummed an acoustic during the set, was backed by bassist Bobby Starnes and a long-time collaborator, guitarist Jerry Hensley. He opened with Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk the Line and a Kris Kristofferson cover, Sunday Mornin Comin Down. Although his vocal tone was shaky, the performance itself was steely, and Cash s guitar playing was typically resonant.