Johnny Cash married Vivian Liberto in San Antonio, Texas, on 7 August 1954, following a three-year long-distance relationship that began when they met while he was an Air Force cadet. The article highlights Liberto’s role in supporting Cash’s early career and raising their four daughters, while also portraying the personal strains that contributed to the end of their marriage.

Cash wrote “I Walk the Line” for Liberto, and it became his first number-one single after his 1955 debut release. However, frequent touring, infidelity and substance misuse damaged the relationship, leading Liberto to file for divorce in 1966 after about 12 years of marriage. Documentary-maker Matt Riddlehoover, married to their daughter Kathy, says his film *My Darling Vivian* seeks to challenge limited portrayals of Liberto and emphasise her lasting love for Cash.