Post Malone and Ashley McBryde hit the stage at Wednesday night’s “Opry 100: A Live Celebration” to perform a stirring tribute to one of country music’s most iconic couples, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash.
It’s only fitting that the Opry’s 100 year anniversary included a nod to the legendary couple — the two first met backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1956. Twelve years later, they were married.
McBryde and Malone soared on their performance of iconic 1967 duet “Jackson.”
“We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout / We’ve been talkin’ ’bout Jackson ever since the fire went out,” the two sang on the boot-stompin’ tune. “I’m going to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around / Yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson / Look out, Jackson town.”
Malone stepped in to sing alongside McBryde last minute, taking the place of Jelly Roll, who was originally slated for the duet but had to bow out due to illness.
Malone and McBryde’s performance came as part of a three-hour long concert with a star-studded lineup in honor of the Opry’s 100 year anniversary, which was broadcasted live on NBC from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House and Ryman Auditorium.
In addition to Malone and McBryde’s performance, country stars including Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, the evening’s host, Blake Shelton, and more took to the Opry stage for a jam-packed evening of country music hits.
Country newcomer Post Malone is a longtime fan of Johnny Cash’s, and even has a tattoo of the Man in Black on his arm. Last year, he made waves with his cover of Cash’s “Cocaine Blues” alongside Billy Strings in California.
Singer-songwriter Ashley McBryde, a 41-year-old musician known for hits “One Night Standards” and “Light On in The Kitchen,” has also been influenced by Cash, a fellow Arkansas native, and has covered his song “I’ve Been Everywhere” live.
Country music star Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash arrive for the 11th annual Grammy Award show at the National Guard Armory in Nashville March 12, 1969. The awards were presented simultaneously at banquets in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Nashville.
The legendary country music couple Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash were married for 35 years.
In their time as a couple, the pair recorded numerous duets that have cemented themselves as country music gold, including “Jackson” and “If I Were a Carpenter.”
The “Ring of Fire” singer was with Carter Cash until her death in 2003, which was due to surgical complications from a heart valve surgery. Cash died later that year from the complications of diabetes.
Cash and Carter Cash had one child together, singer-songwriter and producer John Carter Cash.
Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist with The Tennessean. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Post Malone, Ashley McBryde pay tribute to Johnny and June at ‘Opry 100’
