Johnny Cash Got On His Knees And Prayed So He Could Sing With Nick Cave

During an interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, Nick Cave shared a moving story about his experience recording with Johnny Cash back in 2002. The Man in Black and Cave sang a duet of the Hank Williams classic, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” for Cash’s American IV album. The country legend was 70 at the time, and was suffering from laryngitis and the flu, and his condition shocked Cave. “When I saw him, he was sort of a terrifying apparition of a man, so different than the man I thought him to be,” Cave said. “And I’m looking at it, like, ‘How is this man going to perform?’ … [Cash said] ‘I’ve never asked Jesus for anything, but I had to perform with you today, and last night, I dropped down on my knees and said, ‘Jesus, I’ve got to sing with Nick. Give me back my voice.” [Cash’s wife] June Carter was there as well, and she was going, ‘Hallelujah, Hallelujah.’ It was an extraordinary moment.” (Rolling Stone)