Cash, June Carter (1929–2003)

American country music songwriter, singer, entertainer and actress. Name variations: June Carter. Born Valerie June Carter in Maces Springs, Scott Co., Virginia, June 23, 1929; died May 15, 2003, in Nashville, Tennessee; dau. of Maybelle Carter (1909–1978) and Ezra Carter; m. Carl Smith, 1952 (div.); m. Rip Nix, 1960 (div.); m. Johnny Cash, 1968 (died Sept 12, 2003); children: Rebecca Carlene Smith (b. 1955, later known as Carlene Carter); Rosie Nix Adams (died 2003); John Carter Cash (b. 1970).

The most famous of the Carter Sisters, signed with Columbia (early 1950s) and recorded a number of hits that made the country music charts; left the Carter Sisters and the Grand Ole Opry (1954) and moved to NY to study at Actor's Studio; appeared on tv shows hosted by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Jack Paar, and Garry Moore, as well as episodes of "Jim Bowie," "Gunsmoke," and "Little House on the Prairie"; starred in film Country Music Holiday (1958); joined Johnny Cash's touring troupe (1961); coauthored "The Matador" (1963), a huge hit; with Merle Kilgore, co-wrote "Ring of Fire"; with Johnny Cash, released successful duet "It Ain't Me, Babe" (1964) and country music hits "Jackson" and "Guitar Pickin' Man" (1967); married and began touring as a singing team (1968); played Mary Magdalene in film Gospel Road (1972). Earned Vocal Group of the Year award from Country Music Association and a Grammy for "If I Were a Carpenter" (1969).

See also autobiographies, Among My Klediments (1979) and From the Heart (1987); and Women in World History.