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The top 20 covers of Johnny Cash songs
Michael Putland/Getty Images

The top 20 covers of Johnny Cash songs

There are many who believe covering songs by the legendary Johnny Cash is wrong — even downright sacrilegious. But that has not stopped several artists and entertainers from trying to take on a classic by the "Man in Black."

Some have failed, but others have fared well, offering original and modern versions that Cash himself has even signed off on. After all, this is the man who knocked covers of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" and Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage," out of the park.

So as we remember the great one on the 15th anniversary of his death this month, here are 20 memorable covers of Cash songs. 

 
1 of 20

"A Boy Named Sue" - Miley Cyrus

"A Boy Named Sue" - Miley Cyrus
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With a daddy known for his pop-country roots, it was only a matter of time before Cyrus — who sports a Cash-inspired tattoo — would try her hand at covering the Man in Black, who actually covered this iconic song written by legendary humorist Shel Silverstein. The public was not a big fan of Cyrus' take on this classic, but she didn't butcher it and seemed to have fun performing it live in 2014.

 
2 of 20

"Ballad of a Teenage Queen" - The Dresden Dolls (featuring Franz Nicolay)

"Ballad of a Teenage Queen" - The Dresden Dolls (featuring Franz Nicolay)
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Penned by Jack Clement, Cash recorded the song in 1958 and it became a No. 1 hit on the country charts. The Dresden Dolls' cover with The Hold Steady's Franz Nicolay offers their own cabaret-style feel that makes the sound quite unique, yet, like most Cash songs, keeps the pace strong enough to tell the story.

 
3 of 20

"Cry, Cry, Cry" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions

"Cry, Cry, Cry" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
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This was the perfect song for Costello and his band to take on, simply because it's a song we can see Costello writing and performing himself. Issued in 1982 with the single, "I'm Your Toy," Costello, very much did the song justice with his own country twang. It's considered one of his most popular covers.


 
4 of 20

"Daddy Sang Bass" - Glen Campbell

"Daddy Sang Bass" - Glen Campbell
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Cash made the Carl Perkins' track a hit in 1968, and Campbell offered a solid version that was just as genuine as the original performance. Campbell's effort was the closing song on his gospel-themed 1970 release, "Oh Happy Day." The two country legends often performed together on stage during their careers.

 
5 of 20

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town" - U2

"Don't Take Your Guns to Town" - U2
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With a reggae feel, Bono and the boys give a unique, highly original take on another Cash classic. Reception differed to this 2001 B-side of "Elevation," as some felt the U2 version was too out there and lacked passion. Others praised the chance taken by the band, which has never been a group to play things safe.

 
6 of 20

"Flesh and Blood" - Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris

"Flesh and Blood" - Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sheryl Crow and Emmylou Harris
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Part of the 2002 "Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Johnny Cash," the three country and pop stars give a subtle, yet powerful, take on the 1970 original. The women's harmonies work well, as does Crow showing off her talents on the accordion alongside the two country greats. 

 
7 of 20

"Folsom Prison Blues" - Everlast

"Folsom Prison Blues" - Everlast
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One of Cash's signature songs, Everlast's version is contemporary and entertaining while being completely original. The former House of Pain leader even delivers the memorable "Jump Around" squeal on this version, which makes it even more unique. Even better, he received the blessing of the Cash family to go ahead with the cover.


 
8 of 20

"Get Rhythm" - Little Richard

"Get Rhythm" - Little Richard
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Also included on the "Kindred Spirits" tribute, Little Richard's version keeps the same rockabilly feel as Cash's, which was recorded in 1969. At age 70, Richard recorded this track and sounded as good as he did at 37. A song made for dancing, Little Richard's "Get Rhythm" delivered a modern take that can stand over time just as well as the original has.

 
9 of 20

"Give My Love To Rose" - Bruce Springsteen

"Give My Love To Rose" - Bruce Springsteen
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This is another "Kindred Spirits" track and one of Springsteen's favorites growing up. From one story teller to another, Springsteen's version is much like many of his classic acoustic takes (pretty much all of "Nebraska"). Springsteen's offering is just as haunting as the original and just as genuine. 

 
10 of 20

"Home of the Blues" - Owl City

"Home of the Blues" - Owl City
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The brainchild of internet sensation and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young, this 2012 version is a piano-driven composition that is both a sweet and an endearing take on a song some fans have found depressingly beautiful. Owl City's approach to one of Cash's earliest hits from 1967 is simple enough to work.  

 
11 of 20

"I Still Miss Someone" - Ryan Adams and the Cardinals

"I Still Miss Someone" - Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Universal Music

Cash co-wrote the song with his nephew, Roy, and Adams and his band more than did it justice. A bonus track on 2005's "Jacksonville City Nights," Adams' take is passionate, tense and emotional. He didn't try to do too much with it; he just stripped it down to sound as pure as the original.

 
12 of 20

"I Walk the Line" - Halsey

"I Walk the Line" - Halsey
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Yes, the Leonard Nimoy version of perhaps Cash's best known song is campy and perfect in its own right, but Halsey delivers a take that's fresh and original. Her slower, darker and soulful rendition was included as part of the deluxe version of her 2015 debut, "Badlands." The pop star's performance is definitely not for everybody, but it's done in her modern style, and she pulled it off well.

 
13 of 20

"Man in Black" - Loquillo y Trogloditas

"Man in Black" - Loquillo y Trogloditas
Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Redferns via Getty Images

Johnny Cash wasn't just an American icon. His popularity spanned the globe, and that was evident when Spanish-born singer Loquillo and his pop-rock band offered their 1993 take ("El Hombre De Negro) on Cash's 1971 hit. Recorded in Spanish, the pace is quick but clean, and the musicianship is strong enough to make this cover stand out. 



 
14 of 20

"Jackson" - Florence + the Machine (featuring Josh Homme)

"Jackson" - Florence + the Machine (featuring Josh Homme)
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Florence Welch and Queens of the Stone Age frontman, Josh Homme, team up to deliver an uptempo, contemporary offering on the Cash-June Carter favorite, which was also a cover. While Welch's dramatic voice adds some feel to the song, Homme is the real star of the performance, showing off his own country and rockabilly chops. 

 
15 of 20

"One Piece at a Time" - Michelle Shocked

"One Piece at a Time" - Michelle Shocked
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Part of the 1988 compilation "'Til Things are Brighter: A Tribute to Johnny Cash," the alternative folk Texan, Shocked, speeds up Cash and the Tennessee Three's 1976 hit penned by Wayne Kemp. It's fast, loud and perhaps the highlight of an under-the-radar tribute album that hardcore Cash fans didn't like, but the man himself was proud of.

 
16 of 20

"Ring of Fire" - Social Distortion

"Ring of Fire" - Social Distortion
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Sure, Ray Charles' version and Blondie's campy take are definitely worth mentioning, but for pure, raw rock 'n roll, this effort by the SoCal punk rockers delivers from start to finish. Frontman Mike Ness, who has a little outlaw Cash-like vibe going himself, provides straightforward vocals on one of the gems of Social D's acclaimed 1990, self-titled third album.

 
17 of 20

"The Folk Singer" - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds

"The Folk Singer" - Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
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Cash's original 1968 recording of "The Folk Singer" was the B-side to "Folsom Prison Blues," and Cave and his band give a solid take on the melancholy tune they titled "The Singer." Released in 1986 by the Aussie Cave, the song became a staple of the band's live shows during the late 1980s. 

 
18 of 20

"Sunday Morning Coming Down" - Billy Ray Cyrus (featuring Shelby Lynne)

"Sunday Morning Coming Down" - Billy Ray Cyrus (featuring Shelby Lynne)
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Best known for the line-dance-friendly "Achy Breaky Heart," and his famous daughter (who we heard from earlier on this list), Cyrus was heavily influenced by Cash. Teaming up with Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, they offer an above-average, heavier cover of a tune Kris Kristofferson wrote and Ray Stevens originally recorded. But Cash took it to new heights, and his version won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year in 1970.

 
19 of 20

"Train of Love" - Bob Dylan

"Train of Love" - Bob Dylan
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Two music legends, Cash and Dylan had a friendship based on respect for each other. They'd perform together at times, so it was no surprise Dylan would contribute to the "Kindred Spirits" project. Before Dylan was a friend of Cash, he was a fan who emulated him and offers a special tribute to his mate on this track.

 
20 of 20

"Understand Your Man" - Dwight Yoakam

"Understand Your Man" - Dwight Yoakam
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In this title track to the "Kindred Spirits" compilation, Yoakam keeps the same style as Cash's original but certainly puts his own stamp on a song that probably would not sit too well with today's audience. Still, it remains one of the highlights to the 2002 tribute to the Man in Black's career.

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for nearly 30 years. If he could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High and Grand Lakes University.

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