In her , four-time Grammy-winning Americana/country singer describes herself as 鈥淲riter, rhymer. Plays well with others.鈥
It鈥檚 that latter trait that serves her especially well when she and her five-time Grammy-winning songwriter/producer husband John Leventhal share the stage.
鈥淲e love doing the show,鈥 she said in an early March phone call to talk about the pair鈥檚 concert on Friday, March 24, at . 鈥淲e just built up this thing over the years that just feels so good. It鈥檚 an unspoken language in a way. We really play well together.鈥
Friday鈥檚 concert is the pair鈥檚 first in Tucson since the pandemic. The show, part of the Fox鈥檚 鈥淟istening Room Series鈥 of singer-songwriter concerts, fits perfectly with what the couple likes to do on stage: Sing songs and tell stories.
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鈥淚t鈥檚 intimate, but yet it still has energy. It鈥檚 fun,鈥 said Cash, who has recorded 14 studio albums of country, pop and folk music over her 45-year career.
Her show with Leventhal, who she married in 1995 and with whom she has a son, crisscrosses her career, from those early hits like 鈥淪even Year Ache,鈥 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Know Why You Don鈥檛 Want Me,鈥 and 鈥淣ever Be You鈥 to songs from her later albums 鈥淭he List鈥 and 鈥淭he River & the Thread.鈥
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 have to worry; it鈥檚 not a six-hour show,鈥 she joked, 鈥渂ut we do have a lot of material.鈥
She and Leventhal also might sneak in a cover of Doc Watson鈥檚 鈥淚 Am A Pilgrim,鈥 the cover song of a tribute album celebrating Watson鈥檚 100th birthday. The album, which features Dolly Parton, Steve Earle, Jerry Douglas, Nora Brown and several others singing Watson鈥檚 most popular songs, will be released April 28.
鈥淒oc is seminal; he is prototypical and an enormous influence,鈥 Cash said of the late bluegrass singer-songwriter, who would have turned 100 on March 3.
When she was a teen, Watson played two shows a night for seven nights at Nashville鈥檚 historic Exit/In, 鈥渁nd I went to every show,鈥 she recalled.
鈥淚 had the opportunity to play with him one time at Merle Fest,鈥 the music festival Watson started in 1988 in memory of his son, Eddy Merle Watson, said Cash, 67. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 ever remember not knowing (鈥業 Am A Pilgrim鈥); it鈥檚 hardwired.鈥
Friday鈥檚 concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Fox, 17 W. Congress St. Tickets are $20-$72.50 through .
Proceeds from this song and video will benefit Music Health Alliance. #WereAllInThisTogetherNow
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Directed by Michael Kessler
Artwork and animation by Browan Lollar
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
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