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Johnny Cash's long-time lakeside home was destroyed by fire yesterday (April 10).
Cash and his wife June Carter lived at the home (where the landmark video for Cash's song ‘Hurt’ was shot) until their deaths in 2003.
The house was also where Cash wrote most of his music. It has seen the Cash-Carter family entertain US presidents, fans, and musical royalty during their time there. Kris Kristofferson, then an aspiring songwriter, once landed a helicopter on Cash's lawn to pitch him a song.
"So many prominent things and prominent people in American history took place in that house — everyone from Billy Graham to Bob Dylan went into that house," said singer Marty Stuart, who lives next door iand was married to Cash's daughter, Cindy. "It was a sanctuary and a fortress for him," Stuart added. "There was a lot of writing that took place there."
Stuart also said that Nashville builder Braxton Dixon who designed the house, was "the closest thing this part of the country had to Frank Lloyd Wright."
In January 2006, the property was purchased by Bee Gees member Barry Gibb. Forbes.com report that Gibb and his wife, Linda, had planned to restore the home and write songs there.
Gibb's spokesman, Paul Bloch, said the singer and his family are "both saddened and devastated by the news."
The fire began at 1.40pm. Fire engines were said to have arrived within five minutes but the property was already engulfed by flames.
Richard Sterban lives on the same road as Cash, speaking to CBS he mused: "Maybe it's the good Lord's way to make sure that it was only Johnny's house."
