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I remember Johnny calling me before that and saying, "Just listen to me: I'm sending a moving van and I'm bringing you home." At that time, he was messed up too, and I didn't understand how he could help me. But God had a plan for me, so I drove with my three children from Houston to Tennessee in 1969. I came home to my mother's house. She took me in her arms and she said, "She's come home to Jesus, not only to my family, but to Jesus."

Sibling bonding—Joanne and Johnny Cash, back in the 1970's.

I began working for Johnny in the House of Cash—his office complex and recording studio. So I began working for him as a receptionist, greeting people that came in. I met a young woman there who was a preacher's wife, and she'd invite me to church over and over, despite me always rejecting her.

So how did your conversion or rededication come about?

Cash Johnny had rented an airplane for us to fly down to south Arkansas for a Cash family reunion. And on the way back—October 17, 1970—we ran into one of those late-October hailstorms. We didn't expect we would make it. So I cried out to God in the midst of that hailstorm and I said, "If you'll show me how to find you, I'll give you all the days of the rest of my life." In a few minutes, we came out of that hailstorm, and I knew somebody had heard me pray.

When the plane landed, I knew that God had heard my cry. The pilot walked around the plane, shook his head, and walked away. The plane looked like it was beaten with a hammer through that hailstorm. And we knew without a doubt that God had saved our lives that day, because he had plans for all of us.

So that was your turning point.

Cash I went to church the next day, which was a Sunday, and I said, "I've come here today to find Jesus, 'cause I had promised him that I would." And I had one of those glorious transformation experiences. I felt the Holy Spirit come over my body and deliver me—I was totally set free of drugs and alcohol. That was October 18, 1970, and I've been free ever since.

Johnny was at the apex of his popularity by the time you had your conversion experience. You never criticized him for the kind of lifestyle he led?

Cash He got into drugs because the human body can't take the fast-pace schedule they had him on. He first did those drugs innocently, not knowing what he was taking and what a terrible road they would put him on. It was by the grace of God that Johnny survived all those many times he took so many drugs. But when you're an artist—what the world calls a superstar—your body can't take that. He did lead a rough life, and one that he later regretted.

He came back to the Lord in 1972. Johnny had his ups and downs, but he loved Jesus with all of his heart. And many times, when [my husband] Harry and I would go to his house, he always wanted to talk about the Lord. He would say, "Harry, what's the Word today?" And we'd talk about Scripture.

Johnny always wanted to be a gospel singer. But at the time, Sun Records said that wouldn't sell. Later on in his career, Johnny recorded several gospel albums. He recorded with me many times and I'd sing with him at his concerts. He was a wonderful human being, a wonderful brother, and a wonderful husband to June.

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