New Books Network M. Hinds and J. Silverman, "Johnny Cash International: How and Why Fans Love the Man in Black" (U Iowa Press, 2020)
Jan 26, 2026
Jonathan Silverman, scholar of American popular culture, and Michael Hinds, researcher of transnational fandom, discuss Johnny Cash’s global legacy. They recount fieldwork from Norway to Portugal. Topics include online fan communities, YouTube covers, pilgrimages to museums and landmarks, and how Cash bridges generations, politics, and local identities around the world.
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How The Project Began
- Jonathan Silverman met Michael Hinds after offering a talk on "A Boy Named Sue," which sparked their collaboration on Johnny Cash fandom research.
- Their friendship led to joint fieldwork, study abroad teaching, and then the decision to coauthor the book.
Charlie And Elvira Spark Fieldwork
- Michael Hinds encountered Charlie Taggart, a shopkeeper in Omagh who played Johnny Cash all day and inspired part of the project.
- That meeting, plus contact with Elvira in the Netherlands, expanded their international fan network and research directions.
Cash's Cross-Generational Pull
- Johnny Cash attracts fans across generations because his long, varied career creates multiple entry points and meanings.
- Cash generates a strong feeling of authenticity and trust that listeners use to connect emotionally and intellectually.
