Susan Tedeschi Recalls Childhood Conversation with Johnny Cash

Susan Tedeschi has revealed that, as a child, she had a brief conversation with Johnny Cash that remains one of her most cherished memories. “I was 10 years old,” said the singer-guitarist, “and I was auditioning for Annie, on Broadway. My grandmother and I were staying at the New York Hilton, and The Bee Gees happened to be staying there, as well. I ran through the turnstile and right into this gentleman who was dressed all in black.”

Tedeschi continued: “He says, ‘Slow down, little lady! Where are you going in such a hurry?’ I said, ‘The Bee Gees are pulling up!’ He’s like, ‘Oh, you like The Bee Gees?’ I said, ‘Well, they’re singers and I like singers. I sing, too.’ He says, ‘You do? Me, too.’ I said, ‘Really? What do you sing?’ He said, ‘Well, I sing and play guitar, and write my own songs. Maybe we’ll get to sing together some day.’ I said, ‘Yeah, that would be great!’”

“It was a wonderful little moment,” Tedeschi recalled. “He was wearing an ‘I Love New York’ pin, and he took it off and gave it to me. He said, ‘Here’s something you can remember me by.’ I said, ‘Okay, thank you so much.’ Then he left. Afterwards, all these people came running over, asking me what Johnny Cash had said to me. I had no idea it was him. Later I got to tell Willie Nelson that story, but by then Johnny was really sick, so I never got to meet him again. But I still have the pin he gave me.”

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