June Carter and Johnny Cash had a tumultuous start but have been one of the most enduring relationships in music history. The two complete opposites became the prefect compliments for one another, both romantically and musically.

Johnny Cash was known as the Man in Black, a riotous country singer who had a reputation as a womanizer and notorious drug abuser. His music was torn and sorrowful but full of soul. It was the abuse he was putting his body through which could have stunted his career. June Carter was the young and beautiful country songstress which saved his life. In 1956 when the two met and performed together the energy in the air was electric, but the timing was wrong. It wasn’t until years later that both were free of their previous marriages that June finally proposed an ultimatum. He dropped the drugs or dropped her. The two lived lakeside in a small cottage while June nursed John during his detoxification from amphetamines. She served as friend and counselor until Johnny Cash stopped right in the middle of a song on stage in London, Ontario and popped the question in 1968. Cash underwent a dramatic revival as a musician and performer putting the drug use behind him and his career and family at the forefront.

While the two had hit duets like “It Ain’t Me Babe” the two also reached individual success. June went on to winning numerous Grammy awards for albums Wildwood Flower and Press On and Best Female Country Vocal for “Keep on the Sunny Side.” Johnny Cash would have a long and celebrated career beginning with a gold record selling album Live from Folsom Prison and being named the youngest Inductee into Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 at the age of 48.

June Carter turned out to be an instrumental turning point in Johnny Cash’s life, without which he may never have escalated to such musical success. John was at June’s side until she passed away, her hand held in his in May of 2003, his death followed a few months later.

For more on these two country music legends read on at Bio.