The boy, the man, the legend, Johnny Cash is one of the most iconic figures in American music history. His talent expands across various genres including country, rock n roll, blues, gospel, and folk music. But this country star came from humble beginnings. After being born in Kingsland, he grew up in the charming small town of Dyess, Arkansas.

On February 26, 1932, a boy who became a legend, was born in the small town of Kingsland, Arkansas. That legend was no other than Johnny Cash, lovingly known as JR to locals and his family.

City of Kingsland, Arkansas/Facebook Though he was born in Kingsland, he spent very little time there. In fact, he was 3 years old when his family relocated to Dyess in 1935.

Established in 1934, Dyess is a small farming town located in the Arkansas Delta with approximately 400 residents.

Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home/Facebook Initially, the town was formed as a colony to help sharecroppers and struggling farmers regain their footing during the Great Depression.

As part of a resettling program issued by the Roosevelt administration, Cash’s family received 20 acres of land and a five-room house in the Arkansas Delta.

Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home/Facebook Cash would call the farming town of Dyess home until 1950, when he left for the Air Force after graduating from high school.

Back in 2009, the Arkansas legislature with the help of the Arkansas State University devised a plan to revitalize the town using its rich agricultural history along with Cash’s influence.

Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home/Facebook Between 2009 and 2014, the house along with the old administration building and the theater, were restored and are now part of a tour that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Today, Cash’s boyhood home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places…

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

…and after working with members of Cash’s family, Arkansas State University restored the house back to its original form with great attention to detail.

Dr. Blazer, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons In addition to weekly tours, there are concerts and other live events held at this house each year.

From humble beginnings, working on sharecropping land, Cash rose above his plight and became a legend.

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Not only did the charming town of Dyess mold the man, but it also became the inspiration for much of his incredible music. And though the town wasn’t his birthplace, his legacy thrives on throughout it.

Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home/Facebook But Cash isn’t the only legend from Arkansas, there are notable artists like Al Green, Billy Bob Thornton, and Glen Campbell, just to name a few.

If you would like to tour Cash’s boyhood home in the charming town of Dyess, visit the website or Facebook page for schedule and prices.  

City of Kingsland, Arkansas/Facebook

Though he was born in Kingsland, he spent very little time there. In fact, he was 3 years old when his family relocated to Dyess in 1935.

Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home/Facebook

Initially, the town was formed as a colony to help sharecroppers and struggling farmers regain their footing during the Great Depression.

Cash would call the farming town of Dyess home until 1950, when he left for the Air Force after graduating from high school.

Between 2009 and 2014, the house along with the old administration building and the theater, were restored and are now part of a tour that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Dr. Blazer, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

In addition to weekly tours, there are concerts and other live events held at this house each year.

But Cash isn’t the only legend from Arkansas, there are notable artists like Al Green, Billy Bob Thornton, and Glen Campbell, just to name a few.

And if you’re interested in visiting another small town in the Arkansas Delta, here’s one that is brimming with charm.

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Address: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home, 110 Center Dr, Dyess, AR 72330, USA