It's easy to connect with the symbol that is "Johnny Cash," whether you're a rebel, a wanderer, or even a Christian. But how do these contradictions come together as some kind of American identity? And how do these final recordings of a humble storyteller speak to our need for the man to come around?

Additional Resources:

• Johnny Cash’s American albums hit the heart and soul
• Why Johnny Cash's American Recordings Are The Perfect Epitaph To His Career
• Performing Songwriter – Rick Rubin
• How The ‘American Recordings’ Series Revitalized Johnny Cash’s Career
• 'American' Remembered: Rick Rubin On Johnny Cash