“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”

Watching Johnny Cash’s America, I felt comfort, relaxed as the documentary explored the prominent moments and themes of Cash’s life including love of the land, freedom, justice, family, faith and redemption. The documentary goes into a lot of detail about Johnny Cash.

Thursday, October 23 at 9PM EST the Bio Channel will share this unique documentary. Catch it if you can, it’s worth watching. Narrated by Oscar-winning actor Chris Cooper.

My favorite line in the documentary comes from Chris Cooper, “How can one speak his mind without losing his voice?”

The exclusive interviews, photos and unreleased music and footage was entertaining as well as an American history lesson.  

The interviews include Cash’s sister Joanne, son John Carter Cash and daughters Cindy Cash and Rosanne Cash, childhood friends and fellow band mates as well as Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow, Al Gore, Tim Robbins, Loretta Lynn, Snoop Dogg, Vince Gill, Ozzy Ozborne, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) all of whom are connected to Cash in surprising ways. 

The special features 27 of Cash’s songs as well as unreleased and never-before seen footage including the 1965 “Johnny Cash Show” featuring solo performance of “Five Feet High and Rising,” outtakes from the recording studio with Cash and Bob Dylan from his elusive Eat the Document documentary and rehearsal footage for a Highwaymen recording session. The Cash family – Johnny’s sister, son, and other relatives – take viewers to rural Dyess, Arkansas to Cash’s childhood home and visit brother Jack’s grave which elicits a moving, impromptu singing of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” 

 Johnny Cash’s Americapremiered at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 4, and screened at the Country Music Hall of Fame on October 11, the American Cinematheque in Hollywood, CA on October 13, the Memphis Indie Film Festival on October 15 and the Paley Center in New York, NY on October 17.  The CD/DVD will be released the CD/DVD on October 28.