Johnny Cash has left a legacy behind in country music just to be filled by his eldest daughter, Rosanne Cash. To this day Rosanne Cash has been releasing album after album, she has reached a total of 15 albums released throughout her career. She has won countless awards and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s hall of fame in the year, 2015.
December of 1978, Rosanne Cash released her first self-titled album, which jump started her career in country and Americana music. This album gained attention from Columbia Records which offered her a recording contract and she got started on her first album with the label. 1979 was the year “Right or Wrong” was released and climbed the charts while producing three top 25 singles. She did not tour for this album, but that didn’t change the amount of success it had.
Her second album with Columbia Records was released in 1981 called, “Seven Year Ache.” The title track of this album reached number 1 on the Billboard country charts and was a successful crossover to the pop charts. Two other songs on this record reached number 1 on the Billboard charts, these included, “My Baby Thinks He’s a Train” and “Blue Moon with Heartache.” “Seven Year Ache” also became a certified Gold Record. This record secured her place in the music industry.
“Seven Year Ache”
Her third studio album, “Somewhere in the Stars” was released in 1982 and considered a disappointment because it didn’t get as much commercial success as the last. In 1984 she received help for substance abuse, this struggle led to the release of “Rhythm & Romance” in 1985. “Rhythm & Romance” was a very successful country-pop fusion that won Rosanne Cash her very first Grammy award, Best Country Vocal Performance, Female for her single, “I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me.” She also won CMJ, Country Album of the Year. This album produced two number one singles, “Never Be You” and “I Don’t Know You Don’t Want Me.”
“I Don’t Know You Don’t Want Me”
Her next album was “King’s Record Shop” which is one of her most successful records of her career. It became her second certified gold record and was released in 1987. This record produced five number one singles including “The Way We Make a Broken Heart” and “Runaway Train.” One of her number one singles was “It’s Such a Small World” which was a duet she did with husband, Rodney Crowell. “Interiors” which was released 1990. Which was also the last album she collaborated with Crowell on. It was a deeply personal album which she co-wrote or wrote each song on her own and co-produced the album. This album didn’t win any awards, but it did mark a new chapter of her career.
She married Rodney Crowell, a country singer-songwriter in 1979. He produced or co-produced her first six studio albums. They divorced in 1992 which is also ended their work together. Her last album with Columbia Records was, “The Wheel” was produced by John Leventhal and released in 1993. They continued working together and were married in 1995. John Leventhal has produced or co-produced all of Rosanne Cash’s albums since.
She signed with Capitol Records and released her next three albums, “Ten Song Demo” (1996), “Rules of Travel” (2003) and “Black Cadillac” (2006) “Black Cadillac” was the album released after the death of her stepmother, June and her father, Johnny Cash. This album was a success and was nominated for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album at the Grammy’s.
In 2009, Rosanne Cash released her album, “The List,” which was named Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association. Her most successful album at the Grammy’s was 2014’s “The River & The Thread.” It won Best Americana Album, Best American Roots Song and Best American Roots. This album reached number one on Americana radio and was honored as one of the top albums by multiple magazines.
Her most recent album is, “She Remembers Everything,” which was released in 2018. At 64 years old she still continues her career touring and releasing music. Johnny Cash has left an incredible career behind him, but his eldest daughter, Rosanne Cash, made her own.
Everyone But Me (Acoustic)
Written by Allison Jones
Photo Credit by Clay Patrick McBride