Franklin in Simpson County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Cash-Carter Wedding / Walk the Line

Cash-Carter Wedding Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 1, 2020

1. Cash-Carter Wedding Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Cash-Carter Wedding Country music icons Johnny Cash and June Carter were married here on March 1, 1968, one week after Cash proposed on stage in Ontario, Canada. The couple came to Franklin because in Kentucky they could purchase a license and marry on the same day, whereas their home state of Tennessee required a longer waiting period. The wedding became national news.

Walk the Line Johnny Cash and June Carter were not the first country music stars to cross the state line to marry in Franklin, Kentucky. Kitty Wells married fellow musician Johnnie Wright here on October 30, 1937. Both couples remained married until separated by death many years later. Johnny Cash and Kitty Wells were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Erected 2018 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2535.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment.

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In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 1, 1968.

Location. 36° 43.365′ N, 86° 34.741′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Kentucky, in Simpson County. Marker is on North College Street north of West Cedar Street (Kentucky Highway 100), on the right when traveling north. Marker is on the west lawn of the Simpson County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 North Main Street, Franklin KY 42134, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Simpson County Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Simpson County Civil War Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Simpson County Desert Shield / Desert Storm Veterans Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); County Named, 1819 / Franklin (within shouting distance of this marker); Carolyn Conn Moore (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beverly L. Clarke (about 300 feet away); Old Stone Jail / Jailer's Residence (about 400 feet away); Goodnight Memorial Library / Isaac Hershel Goodnight (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.

Walk the Line Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 1, 2020

2. Walk the Line Marker

Cash-Carter Wedding / Walk the Line Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 1, 2020

3. Cash-Carter Wedding / Walk the Line Marker

Johnny Cash and June Carter image. Click for full size.

Courtesy Simpson County Tourism Commission, March 1, 1968

4. Johnny Cash and June Carter

The couple on their wedding day at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin, Ky.

Johnnie Wright (left), Kitty Wells (center) and Jack Anglin (right) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By WSM/Grand Old Opry (Copyright not renewed) / WikiMedia Commons, circa 1957

5. Johnnie Wright (left), Kitty Wells (center) and Jack Anglin (right)

Wright and Wells were married nearly 74 years when Wright died in 2011 (Wells died the following year). Wright and Anglin performed together as Johnnie & Jack until Anglin's death in a 1963 car accident.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 365 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 2, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.