‘The Ballad of Johnny and June’ Brings the Burning Love of This Iconic Couple to Life at the La Jolla Playhouse

Patti Murin is also pretty incredible in her portrayal of June Carter Cash too. Her acting, stellar voice and embodiment of June were a perfect match for Christopher Ryan Grant’s Johnny Cash. The chemistry between the actors was spot on and you truly felt like you were in attendance of a concert with the actual legends themselves.

This refreshing new musical shines the light on country music royalty Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and tells their tumultuous life and love story through the eyes of their son John Carter Cash (portrayed brilliantly by Van Hughes). The story covers their childhoods, their 1956 meeting at the Grand Ole Opry, their infamous on-stage proposal in 1968, and the soaring highs and whiplash lows of fame, life on the road, addiction, arrests, controversies, marriage, family, devotion and more.

I felt like this show was a creative combination of a concert meets a play meets a musical and I love how it gave the audience a behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the most iconic love stories in music history, complete with a soundtrack of their fan favorite songs like ‘I Walk the Line,’ ‘Ring of Fire‘, ‘I’ve Been Everywhere‘ and many more.

‘The Ballad of Johnny and June’ is a long overdue musical that beautifully captures the best and worst moments of this legendary country music duo. And mark my words, when this fabulous show makes it’s way to Broadway, it will certainly being among the Tony Award winning favorites just like ‘The Outsiders’ which debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse in Spring of 2023.

Don’t miss your chance to see The Ballad of Johnny and June during it’s run at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego now through July 7th, 2024. Get your tickets HERE.