Rosanne Cash

Country-pop pioneer, traditionalist, folk singer—since the ’70s, Rosanne Cash has defied categorization with her poignant songwriting and stylistic versatility. Born in 1955 to country icon Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian, in Memphis, Rosanne made her debut in 1978 with a self-titled album soon overshadowed by 1981’s Seven Year Ache, which blended synth-pop, classic country, and rock ‘n’ roll into a groundbreaking sound. Cash’s gift for thoughtful, introspective lyrics has buoyed her music in every style she’s since explored. On 1985’s Rhythm and Romance, she leaned further into pop; for 1987’s King’s Record Shop, she swung back hard into traditional country; with 1990’s earthy Interiors, she explored her relationship with collaborator and husband Rodney Crowell; and she delivered sophisticated, atmospheric roots tunes on 1993’s The Wheel. Through the late ‘90s and into the 21st century, Cash has established herself as an Americana icon. She underwent and recovered from potentially career-threatening brain surgery in 2007, and she’s published a handful of books along the way, too.