To My Sweetheart, Vivian

Touching 1954 recording of Johnny Cash professing his love to then-future wife, Vivian. Johnny recorded this audio letter on acetate record while stationed in Germany in the U.S. Air Force (before his music career) and mailed it to Vivian as a cherished Valentine's Day present.

This video was made possible by Dick Distin - Vivian's loving second husband - who steadfastly supported Vivian during her search for healing, and the writing of her memoir, "I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny" (published September 2007 by Scribner/Simon & Schuster).

(This video was edited by Jenny Crawford, friend of Ann Sharpsteen -- Vivian's friend and writing partner) Thank you Jenny!

Posted with love, and in honor of Vivian and Johnny (and their four precious daughters: Kathy, Cindy, Tara and Rosanne). xxxooo Annie

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Johnny
• Cash
• Vivian

[verbenabonariensis]

This is precious. Vivian was such a gorgeous lady, and her four daughters look so much like her. Thanks for sharing this!

[SharpAnnie]

Thanks verben+, the daughters DO look so much like Vivian don't they?! I agree. Kathy, especially, takes my breath away every time I see her. And photos of Rosanne, do too. Vivian was a beautiful lady (inside and out). xxxooo thanks for the comment

[CALILOU09]

Thanks so much for posting this sweet statement of a loving man. It's priceless.

[SharpAnnie]

Hi Calilou, thanks for the comment. I love hearing the tenderness in his voice. So sweet...

[BaseballJunkie35]

Someone posted a link to this on the forums. Thats how i saw this video. its amazing and thanks for posting.

[SharpAnnie]

Hi Baseball... thanks for the comments! A friend of mine (Jenny) edited this little video together for me, in order to honor Vivian and Johnny. Jenny was my dear friend each step of the way during the writing of the book with Vivian, and then after Vivian died. Glad you enjoyed seeing it!

[JohnnyCashIsGod]

yeah she was portrayed very badly in the film, which sucks because Cash's son was an executive producer, you'd think he would have been more sensitive to his sisters. Apparently she was always very supportive of his career as well. They had to make the movie clear cut for the audiences, they couldn't have Johnny leaving a good woman for June Carter, that would have been too confusing.

[MPetro108]

I just finished reading Vivian's book and she mentions this recording in there. I was one of those people who believed the movie until I read the book.  It's good to know both sides of the story. I love Johnny Cash, and I have so much respect for Vivian. May they both rest in peace.

[09201951ful]

June was a home wrecker but when I saw the movie I got the impression that Johnny Casn loved June Carter since he was a boy . Vivian never had a chance once he met the woman he had loved forever .

[09201951ful]

Yeah Right

[JESUSISMYSAV]

poor vivian the people who made walk the line made her look weird. June carter was a homewrecker

[dongtingwong]

a 2 hour movie can not do justice to Johnny Cash or anyone close to him. I always thought TV needed to do a 5 part mini-series of his life. But if you noticed lately TV sucks and doesn't do good mini-series anymore.

[doctordonuthin]

Also not to detract from Vivian, but where was poor old Carl Perkins in the movie. He was a real good friend to Johnny and they both went to Columbia records together. The sad thing today is that people want to focus on the drugs, which did affect his life I know, but these were a side-on to his life and shouldn't be the focus. There were so many other things of interest in his life. Sad old trashy Hollywood who know drugs sell movies.

[Muchtutty]

Walk The Line, the movie, was terrible at potraying Johnny's life and the people in it.

[JuJuMJFan4life]

Wow...they really messed up Vivian in the movie

[marjoleinonline]

1:14 What a beautiful lovable couple. I really think it's sad what happened afterwards with June Carter.

I'm reading Vivian's book right now, very emotional.

[AGibsonJ]

This recording really shines a light on Vivian's relationship with Johnny. Stardom changes everything , sometimes love flies away with enormous success, new options become available. Seems to happen a lot today too!

[Katzeleine]

@carlenecarter52 Oh right! :)