Johnny Cash Called Bob Dylan “The Best Thing Out There” – Here’s Why
- Johnny Cash is, one of the most revered singer-songwriters of all time, responsible for creating some of the most beloved songs like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring Of Fire,”...
- When Cash debuted in the late 1950s, it wouldn’t take long for Dylan to follow suit in the early 1960s.
- In the book Cash on Cash: Interviews and Encounters With Johnny Cash, the "Highwayman" singer reflected on the first time he heard Dylan's music.
Johnny Cash is, one of the most revered singer-songwriters of all time, responsible for creating some of the most beloved songs like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring Of Fire,” and “I Walk the Line,” among many others. His name stands among a handful of legends who have contributed greatly to the music industry. So, of course, when he praised something — or someone — it truly meant something. That weight carried even more significance when Cash used such high praise to describe a fellow singer-songwriter, even once calling him “the best thing out there.” That singer is none other than the “Like a Rolling Stone” hitmaker, Bob Dylan.
When Cash debuted in the late 1950s, it wouldn’t take long for Dylan to follow suit in the early 1960s. The start of their respective careers wasn’t really that far apart. And they were both groundbreaking in their own right, with Cash carving out a space in country music, while Dylan redefined the folk genre. But that doesn’t make Cash’s words about Dylan any less significant. Cash was a poetic storyteller himself, known for his raw, honest songwriting that explored themes of love, faith, loss, redemption, and more. Of course, talent recognizes talent, and Cash acknowledged that Dylan stands among the greatest songwriters of all time.
In the book Cash on Cash: Interviews and Encounters With Johnny Cash, the “Highwayman” singer reflected on the first time he heard Dylan’s music. He said: “The first time I heard him — I don’t know where it was, I believe in Las Vegas — I thought it was an old country singer. And then I realized somebody told me who he was—and I said, this is really unbelievable that he could get airplay singing that kind of music. I just heard a fresh approach to some old themes, but really done well with an insight that had never been put on record. I just loved his work, loved him. Always have. Still do. I just think he’s still the best thing out there.”
Cash’s words toward Dylan weren’t all that surprising. After all, Dylan is considered one of the most celebrated songwriters in history. And that reputation comes with a string of songs that fully embody that legacy, including “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” “Tangled Up in Blue,” and many more. Also, Dylan and Cash shared a genuine friendship, which was then highlighted in the 2024 biographical film, A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet as Dylan and Boyd Holbrook as Cash.
It wasn’t just Cash who admired Dylan, though. In fact, long before messaging apps made communication easy, Cash and Dylan exchanged letters as pen pals, forming a decades‑long bond that began early in their careers. They wrote to each other about music, life, and everything in between, eventually becoming close friends after meeting in person at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival. That friendship ultimately led to their collaboration in February 1969, when Cash and Dylan recorded a duet of “Girl From the North Country,” which was featured on Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album.
When Cash passed away on , at the age of 71, Dylan wrote heartfelt words in tribute to his late friend. Published in Rolling Stone, Dylan remembered Cash as a singular talent, offering high praise for his music. But perhaps the most striking part was Dylan’s refusal to summarize Cash in just a few words. Instead, he insisted that Cash couldn’t be summed up. He wrote: “I think People can have recollections of him, but we can’t define him any more than we can define a fountain of truth, light and beauty… If we want to know what it means to be mortal, we need look no further than the man in black… He rises above all, and he’ll never die or be forgotten, even by persons not born yet — especially those persons — and that is forever.”
Cash is well known for his nickname, the “Man in Black,” inspired by his habit of wearing all-black clothing on stage — the very nickname that Dylan used to refer to his old friend. It’s such a remarkable moment in music history that two of the most talented and influential figures of their time were connected not just by their craft, but by mutual admiration and respect. And the respect they had for one another showcases how two undeniable talents recognize each other.