A statue depicting Johnny Cash left Arkansas for Washington on Thursday, as state officials bid farewell to the bronze figure on its journey to the U.S. Capitol. The eight-foot-tall statue, safely packed in a wooden crate, is set to be unveiled at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 24. This departure was witnessed by a small crowd, including members of Cash's family, outside Arkansas' Capitol.
The Cash statue is the second new addition from Arkansas to replace existing ones representing the state at the U.S. Capitol. The first replacement was a statue of civil rights leader Daisy Bates, who played a pivotal role in the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in 1957. These statues replaced the ones that had represented Arkansas at the Capitol for over a century, following a legislative decision in 2019.
Johnny Cash, born in Kingsland, Arkansas, was a legendary musician who achieved global success with 90 million records sold across various genres like country, rock, blues, folk, and gospel. He holds the distinction of being inducted into both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The Cash statue portrays the singer with a guitar on his back and a Bible in his hand. Renowned Little Rock sculptor Kevin Kresse, known for his work on musical figures from Arkansas, was chosen to create this statue. Kresse expressed his anticipation for the statue's installation and public unveiling, wearing a T-shirt bearing Cash's last name.
Secretary of State John Thurston highlighted the significance of these new monuments, encouraging people to visit the U.S. Capitol to witness the statues of Bates and Cash. Kresse shared his relief and excitement, stating that once the statue is safely assembled inside the Capitol, he can finally take a deep breath.
