Johnny Cash's Daughter Kathy Sheds Light on Her Dad's First Marriage with Vivian Liberto

May 2024 ยท 3 minute read

In a recent interview, Kathy Cash opened up about her father Johnny Cash's first marriage to Vivian Liberto. The legendary singer initially met Liberto in 1951.

"Dad said he felt a connection and knew he wanted to get to know her," Kathy told Closer Weekly. "It was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to Mom."

Kathy is one of four daughters including Tara, Cindy, and Roseanne, born to the couple. Her parent's romantic tale is the subject of a new documentary called "My Darling Vivian."

Johnny Cash posing with a guitar in 1994. | Photo: Getty Images

THE COUPLE'S LOVE STORY

The documentary used home films and over 1,000 love letters to narrate the story of their courtship and marriage. As reported by Wide Open Country, Liberto was just 17 years of age when she met Cash at a roller skating rink in San Antonio, Texas.

They dated for three weeks until Cash was deployed to Germany, according to Rolling Stone. During that time, the couple exchanged more than 1,000 letters.

One month after his discharge, Cash and Liberto tied the knot at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church in San Antonio on August 7, 1954. They moved in Memphis after their honeymoon.

Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto in circa 1957. | Photo: Getty Images

CONTROVERSIAL PHOTO

Nine months after they married, Cash and Liberto welcomed their first child, Rosanne. A month later, Cash released his first single on Sun Records.

In 1965, Cash was arrested in El Paso. A newspaper image in which Liberto showed up close to the singer prompted a rumor that she was African-American. In reality, Liberto was Italian-American.

Instead, Cash, who had become close to June Carter, let the divorce go through.

Johnny Cash, Vivian Liberto, Rosanne Cash, and Kathy Cash in 1957. | Photo: Getty Images

FILING FOR DIVORCE

Interracial marriage was a harming allegation in the South at the time. Many Cash shows were dropped, with hate groups targeting the couple and causing continued dread for the family.

Not long after the disturbance faded away, Vivian decided to file for divorce. She was hoping that her husband would return home more often.

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash at the 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards. | Photo: Getty Images

Instead, Cash, who had become close to June Carter, let the divorce go through. "That was extremely painful because us girls and Mom had been his life," Kathy told Closer Weekly.

In 1968, Liberto remarried to Dick Distin, a Ventura police officer, as reported by Wide Open Country. She then left the Casitas Springs home in California and moved to Ventura.

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash on the set of CMT INSIDE FAME at their home in Jamaica in 2002. | Photo: Getty Images

Numerous years later, Liberto asked for Cash's permission to write a book about their marriage. They reconciled after that. In 2008, Liberto published the book called "I Walked the Line: My Life With Johnny Cash."

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