^ And one of his most popular songs, "Ring of Fire," was written by his underrated wife, June Carter.

Overrated because he is a music icon whose fans insist is not given enough credit, even way after he died. Come on, there are many better musicians who don't get any credit at all. Yes, I recognize how unique and good the man could sing, but he wasn't an amazing songwriter or anything. Sorry, Cash fans.

Vastly over rated, his popularity rose immensely after the new film.

Johnny was his own person and didn't copy anyone that I can see, don't see that much anymore, everybody wears black and is tough.

The story of Cash is amazing. The music is not usually. I have a big Sun Records compilation and every time I listen to it and it gets to a Cash song I couldn't be more let down.

I don't put much praise in someone's talent based on how much they actually write their own music. Suffice it to say that Johnny Cash DID write a great deal of his music. Maybe part of his talent was his ability to recognize the art produced by others and make it his own. To that effect, Johnny Cash deserves greater accolades as being one of the first to pioneer our remix culture. If you listen to him sing "Hurt" you will understand his version is all the more artistic than even Nine Inch Nails'.

At this time I think it's about right b/c he's getting a lot of attns. my sense is this will be a bit of a fad, though, and he'll go back to being an under-listened to icon. hummm, perhaps this is a potential category in and of itself, as well as the over-listened icon, such as Louis Armstrong, who rightfully stands at the pantheon of old time vocal jazz masters, but who, nevertheless, is one I can hardly give a listen to anymore. This is a curious designation, come to think of it, as it goes without saying that LA's status as "icon" (i.e., of highest rated status) is "about right," while, at the same time, I believe it's becoming more clear that LA has a low "transcendent listenability" factor, which is to say, he drives me nuts. This then begs the question of a "timeless non-icon" designation, too, to which I would add the Steve Miller Band. He rules. Although an icon he is not, after 30 years he's still so fresh (and so clean-clean).