Meet Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash famous first wife
Vivian Liberto is widely remembered as the first wife of the legendary country singer Johnny Cash. Unlike most celebrity wives today, Vivian was not in the limelight. Instead, she was a reserved homemaker committed to raising her children and managing her household.
Source: UGC
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Key takeaways
- In addition to focusing on her family, Vivian Cash dedicated her free time to helping her neighbourhood.
- She was the president of the Garden Club in San Buenaventura for three terms.
- She also volunteered at a home for unmarried mothers in the Los Angeles County Hospitals, among other charitable ventures.
Vivian Liberto's profile summary
Full name | Vivian Liberto |
Gender | Female |
Date of birth | April 23, 1934 |
Age | 71 years old (at time of death) |
Zodiac sign | Taurus |
Place of birth | San Antonio, Texas, United States |
Date of death | May 24, 2005 |
Place of death | Ventura, California, United States |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christianity |
Hair colour | Brown |
Eye colour | Brown |
Father | Thomas Liberto |
Mother | Irene Robinson |
Siblings | 2 |
Sexuality | Straight |
Relationship status | Divorced |
Spouse(s) | Mr Distin (m. 1968–2005) Johnny Cash (m. 1954–1966) |
Children | 4 |
Profession | Author |
Vivian Liberto's biography
According to Vivian Liberto's Wikipedia, she was born on April 23, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas. She was raised alongside her brother, Raymond Alvin, and sister, Sylvia. Her parents were Irene (née Robinson), a homemaker, and Thomas Peter Liberto, an insurance salesman and amateur magician.
Vivian Liberto's parents' nationality and ethnicity
Thomas was of Sicilian heritage, with parents who emigrated from Cefalù, Palermo, Sicily, first settling in New Orleans before moving to Texas. Irene had German, Irish, and Sub-Saharan African ancestry, with family roots in Texas dating back to the 19th century.
Vivian and her siblings grew up in a Sicilian-American Catholic household and attended white-only schools during the era of racial segregation in Texas.
What nationality was Vivian Liberto?
Vivian Liberto's heritage was the centre of discussion following her association with Johnny Cash. Although Vivian was born in America, she is actually of Italian descent. Her appearance led many to believe she was an African American woman, but she is actually of White descent.
Stories about Vivian Liberto's ethnic background made her and Johnny targets of white racists, particularly in the Jim Crow South. This became one of the biggest hurdles for Johnny Cash’s career, as the racists presumed that the money he made from his music was to buy drugs and associate with black women. Because of this, Johnny became a target of hate campaigns, and he also received many threats.
Source: UGC
Vivian Liberto and Johnny Cash's relationship
Vivian Liberto was the first wife of the music maestro Johnny Cash. She met Johnny by chance in 1951 during a skating tournament when she was only 17 years old. In the three weeks that followed, the two were inseparable, but sadly, they had to part ways because Johnny was deployed to Germany to serve in the U.S Air Force for 3 years.
During this period, Vivian and Johnny continued their courtship, often exchanging heartfelt letters. The couple shared everything about each other, from their favourite foods to some of the deepest insecurities in their letters. Cash would write to Vivian more often, and he would often sign the letters with “your husband to be.”
Upon Johnny’s return from military service, the two got married on August 7th, 1954, at St Anne’s Catholic Church in San Antonio. Vivian Liberto and Johnny Cash were married for 11 years before divorcing in 1967, citing irreconcilable differences.
Vivian Liberto's children
Vivian and Cash were blessed with four adorable kids: Rossane, Kathy, Cindy, and Tara. All of Vivian Liberto's daughters are featured in the 2020 documentary, which details their parents’ turbulent marriage.
Who was Vivian Cash's second husband?
After her failed marriage to Johnny Cash, who later remarried June Carter Cash, Vivian was married again in 1968, this time to a police officer, Distin. Liberto relocated from her home in California with Cash and moved to Ventura with her new husband. Vivian and Distin stayed together until her demise in 2005.
Vivian Liberto's book
Vivian’s first book, titled I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny, is a memoir that depicts the behind-the-scenes of the marriage between Liberto and Cash. Surprisingly, Johnny and Vivian were still on speaking terms even after their breakup.
When June Carter passed away in 2003, she visited Johnny and told him about the book before it was published. Liberto’s autobiography has since been made into a documentary film, which premiered in 2020 as part of the South by Southwest 2020 Film Festival Collection.
Source: Getty Images
Vivian Cash's cause of death
Johnny Cash’s first wife, the woman he had vowed to remain faithful to in his hit song, I Walk the Line, took her last breath on May 4th, 2005, when she was 71 years old.
She passed on due to complications as she was going through surgery for lung cancer. Vivian Liberto died surrounded by her family, parish priest, and close friends at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura.
FAQs
- Who was Vivian Liberto? She was an American homemaker and author, best known as the first wife of legendary musician Johnny Cash and the mother of his four daughters.
- How old was Vivian Liberto when she died? She was born on April 23, 1934, and died on May 24, 2005, making her 71 years old at the time of her death.
- Who are Vivian Liberto's parents? Her parents were Thomas Peter Liberto, an insurance salesman and amateur magician, and Irene Robinson Liberto, a homemaker.
- Did Vivian Liberto ever remarry? Yes, after divorcing Johnny Cash, Vivian later remarried Distin, a police officer.
- What did Johnny Cash say about Vivian? Johnny Cash acknowledged Vivian as an important part of his early life and career, often crediting her as the mother of his children and a strong influence during his formative years.
- How long was Vivian married to Johnny Cash? They were married from 1954 to 1966, a period of approximately 12 years.
Vivian Liberto was a conventional homemaker who dedicated her time to raising her kids and caring for her home. She was also involved in many community activities, volunteer work, and gardening. Everyone who knew Vivian describes her as humble, kind, sociable, and a great hostess.
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Source: Briefly News
Jedidah Tabalia Jedi is a journalist with over 5 years working experience in the media industry. She has a BSc. in Human Resource Management from Moi University (graduated in 2014) and a working in progress MBA in Strategic Management. Having joined Genesis in 2017, Jedi is a passionate Facts and Life Hacks, Fitness, and Health content creator who sees beauty in everything. She loves traveling and checking out new restaurants. Her email address is jedidahtabalia@gmail.com
John Ouma (Lifestyle writer) John Ouma is a journalist with six years of experience. He has published sharply argued think pieces that live at the intersection of power, politics, and society. He was awarded the FirstGen scholarship by Biola University and a merit-based scholarship by AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in January 2021. He has worked for The Standard and Nation Africa as an opinion columnist between 2018 and 2022. He is currently working on his first novel—a literary fiction that traces the life of a contemporary Kenyan artist. Email: gervasjohn97@gmail.com
