Johnny Cash was born J.R. Cash on Feb. 26, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas. When he was a toddler, his family moved to a government settlement that gave poor families land to work on. By the age of five, his family sang hymns and folk songs together to pass the time as they picked cotton. "Jesus was our savior, cotton was our king," he shared in his 1975 autobiography—Man in Black.
But when Cash was just 12 years old, his family was forever changed when his 14-year-old brother Jack was killed in a horrific table saw accident. "Jack was my big brother and my hero: my best friend, my big buddy, my mentor and my protector," Cash wrote in Cash: The Autobiography. The loss would haunt him for the rest of his life and many believe it's why his music always carried such deep sorrow.
After graduating from high school, Cash enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Germany. During his deployment, he bought a guitar for $5 and formed his first band before returning to the U.S. in 1954. He promptly moved to Memphis, Tennessee, a music epicenter where he could follow and pursue his passion. Eventually, he landed an audition with Sun Records—the iconic label that also launched one Elvis Presley—and recorded hits like "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues." It wasn't long before the Man in Black became one of the biggest names in music. Cash was a voice for the voiceless and his lyrics spoke for the outcasts, the underdogs and the broken-hearted who'd been counted out.
But behind the superstar artist, there was trauma, turmoil and trouble. He battled substance abuse, pushed away those who loved him and was even arrested. Enter June Carter. She'd become the love of his life and the antidote to the pain he spent years trying to escape. "There's unconditional love there," Cash once told Rolling Stone. "She loves me in spite of everything, in spite of myself. She has saved my life more than once."
Together, Johnny and June became one of the most beloved couples and love stories in music history. They wrote, sang and performed together, built a family together and raised each other up through life's painful moments. Johnny Cash sold over 75 million records and is the only artist—besides Hank Williams—to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
On Sept. 12, 2003—just four months after losing June—Johnny passed away at the age of 71. But more than 20 years later, both his music and message continue to inspire millions across the globe. And that's why Johnny Cash is today's quote of the day.
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Quote of the Day by Johnny Cash
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"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."
These words will deeply resonate with anyone who's ever failed or has parts of their past that they're ashamed of. The legendary singer is saying that instead of dwelling on your painful mistakes, shut the door and leave them where they belong—in the past. Continuing to put energy and shame towards them is a complete waste of time and the best thing to do is learn from them and move on.
Related: Quote of the Day: Paul McCartney on Finding Light in the Dark
Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash smile in a 1979 portrait.Photo by CBS Photo Archive on Getty Images
Here's the thing: Because we continually focus on his massive success, people sometimes forget that Cash experienced failure, too. His addiction nearly ended his career, he spent time in jail, he damaged longtime relationships. But instead of letting his darkest moments define him, he learned from them. He didn't forget any of it, but he gave himself the grace to shut the door and move on. How wonderful would life be if we could all do that?
And his courage to do this is what paved the way for his eventual redemption. He reminds us that the mistakes we've made in the past shouldn't define our future and we can't allow them to. In both his music and his wisdom, Johnny Cash is speaking for everyone who's ever felt overcome by darkness—and teaching us that there's so much light to let in.
Related: ’70s Rock Icon Who Sold 80 Million Records Lived by This Simple Rule for Success
More Inspiring Quotes From Johnny Cash
"There's no way around grief and loss: you can dodge all you want, but sooner or later you just have to go into it, through it, and, hopefully, come out the other side. The world you find there will never be the same as the world you left.""You have to be what you are. Whatever you are, you gotta be it.""I wore black because I liked it. I still do, and wearing it still means something to me. It's still my symbol of rebellion—against a stagnant status quo, against our hypocritical houses of God, against people whose minds are closed to others' ideas.""I learn from my mistakes. It's a very painful way to learn, but without pain, the old saying is, there's no gain.""All your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love or hate. I choose love."Next, These 20 Beloved Songs Have Tragic True Stories Behind Them
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