Synopsis

Johnny Cash grows up in rural Arkansas, serves in the Air Force, and struggles to establish himself as a recording artist while carrying the emotional scars of his childhood. His career rises through the country music scene, but addiction and personal turmoil threaten his success. At the center of his life is his complicated, enduring relationship with fellow performer June Carter.

Factoids & Trivia

• The screenplay draws on Johnny Cash's autobiographies Man in Black: His Own Story in His Own Words and Cash: The Autobiography.

• The film's music was recorded by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon themselves rather than being dubbed with the original performers' recordings. Phoenix learned guitar, while Witherspoon learned to play the autoharp.

• Phoenix and Witherspoon trained for several months before filming, including vocal lessons, instrumental practice, and recording the soundtrack.

• The soundtrack won the Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media in 2007. Its production was overseen by T Bone Burnett.

• The project developed after Johnny Cash appeared on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman in 1993 and became acquainted with James Keach, who later helped pursue a film about Cash's life.

• Reese Witherspoon won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as June Carter. The film also received nominations for Joaquin Phoenix, sound mixing, costume design, and film editing.

• A scene in which Cash pulls a sink from a wall was reportedly not scripted; Phoenix pulled it loose during the take.

• The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 4, 2005, before opening in U.S. theaters on November 18, 2005.