The phrase ‘nepo baby’ is being used a lot lately, as more and more children of famous people are trying to become successful in the entertainment industry.
As a lifestyle observer, it’s fascinating to see how success unfolds across generations! Kate Hudson, following in her parents Bill Hudson and Goldie Hawn’s footsteps, is now an Oscar and BAFTA nominee – a huge achievement! And on a completely different note, Miley Cyrus has truly become a superstar, arguably eclipsing the fame of her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who’s a well-known country artist himself. It really highlights how things can shift with each new generation.
However for others it isn’t quite that easy.
John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash and June Carter, has spoken openly about the difficulties he faced growing up with famous parents, acknowledging the downsides of being a ‘nepo baby’.
His father, a hugely successful singer, sold more than 90 million records and had famous songs like “I Walk The Line” and “Ring of Fire.” He is considered one of the best-selling music artists ever.
This just made things more difficult for John as he tried to establish his own identity, particularly since he shared a name and career with his predecessor.
He shared in an interview with The Times how challenging it is to live in the shadow of a famous parent. He explained, ‘There’s a lot of expectation, and you’re always known as their child first, not as an individual.’
Rather than simply trying to copy his famous father, this young artist has forged his own path as a singer.
I’ve had a really diverse career – I’ve put out my own albums, and I’ve also loved working behind the scenes, producing music for incredible artists like Emmylou Harris and Elvis Costello. Plus, I’ve always had a passion for storytelling, which led me to write a series of children’s books. It’s been a wonderfully creative journey!
He admitted that having a famous parent can create opportunities, but lasting success requires hard work and independence. You have to build your own career.
He’s hoping his new musical, The Ballad of Johnny and June, will be his greatest achievement yet. The show tells the story of his parents and their life together.
When director Des McAnuff suggested a musical based on his parents’ lives, John was determined to portray their relationship honestly, beyond a simple, idealized ‘happily ever after’ story.
Johnny Cash and June Carter began a romantic relationship while performing together, and they married in 1968. At the time, Johnny was still married to his first wife, Vivian Liberto.
Yet despite finding the woman of his dreams, the musician was battling an extensive drug addiction.
He admitted he’d developed a dangerous addiction to amphetamines, barbiturates, and alcohol, using all three substances simultaneously. At its worst, he was taking up to one hundred pills daily, along with an entire case of beer.
John shared that his father struggled with addiction even while married to his mother, and in the 1980s, the family had to hold an intervention to try and help him.
He said his mother was also on painkillers and opiates in the later years of her life.
He doesn’t want the musical to portray the story as a tragedy, but instead to show how he grew to love his family despite their struggles with addiction.
John shared that his parents had a lifelong love story, though it wasn’t without its challenges. He recounted an encounter where someone asked what it was like to be the child of such a famous romance, to which he replied, “You clearly weren’t around to see the reality of it.”
The actor also wants to correct the idea that Johnny Cash was a gloomy or troubled person, emphasizing that he was actually a dedicated and funny individual.
Johnny had a laid-back approach to raising his four daughters with his first wife, and June brought a son and daughter into the family. They didn’t push him to focus on schoolwork, but they always encouraged everyone to make music together.
In a promotional clip for the film, he described his parents, saying his father was a thoughtful and well-educated man, as was his mother.
As someone who studies relationships for a living, I’ve always been fascinated by the power of forgiveness. My own parents weren’t perfect – nobody is! – but they had this incredible ability to let things go with each other. That’s the kind of deep, unconditional love I really wanted to capture and highlight in this play; it felt so important to me to show that kind of connection.
Growing up as the child of a musician meant John had an unconventional childhood. He traveled the world with his parents from a young age until his father retired in 1997, when John was 27 years old.
Oh my god, just thinking about it gives me chills! I can practically picture them – John and his dad, bouncing between dives on tour, living that real rock ‘n’ roll life. And it wasn’t just any tour, it was amazing! John wasn’t just tagging along either, he was in the studio, hanging out with legends! Nick Cave, Joe Strummer from The Clash… can you believe it?! And Rick Rubin! He was right there, breathing the same air as these incredible artists. It’s just… everything I’ve ever dreamed of!
At 55, John has come to terms with the fact that his identity is deeply connected to his parents. He recognizes he’s largely loved because of who they are, and this connection is something he’ll always carry with him.
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2026-01-31 19:21