HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. — Family, friends and musiciansgathered at Johnny Cash's funeral Monday to pay tribute to a giantin American music.
''He represented the best of America; we're not going to see hislike again,'' said singer-songwriter Kris Kristofferson, who wroteCash's 1970 hit ''Sunday Morning Coming Down.''
More than 1,000 people attended the private two-and-a-half-hourservice at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, about 15 milesnorth of Nashville -- the same church where Cash mourned the deathof his wife, June Carter Cash, in May.
Cash, 71, died Friday of respiratory failure caused bycomplications from diabetes. He had been in declining health foryears.
''I can almost live in a world without Johnny Cash because hewill always be with us,'' said Cash's daughter, singer RosanneCash. ''I cannot begin to imagine a world without Daddy.''
Among the celebrities attending were country singers Vince Gill,Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt, Dwight Yoakam, George Jones, RickySkaggs, Ronnie Dunn, the Statler Brothers and the Oak RidgeBoys.
Other celebrities in attendance included rock-rapper Kid Rock,actress Jane Seymour and former Vice President Al Gore, a native ofTennessee.
Kristofferson called Cash ''Abraham Lincoln with a wild side''-- a man always willing to champion the voiceless and downtrodden,''whose work in life has been an inspiration and salvation to somany people around the world.''
The Rev. Franklin Graham -- son of Cash's friend, the Rev. BillyGraham, delivered the sermon, calling Cash ''a good man who alsostruggled with many challenges in his life. He was a deeplyreligious man.''
Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow sang the gospel hymn, ''The OldRugged Cross'' and Bob Dylan's ''Every Grain of Sand.''
Cash, known as ''The Man in Black'' for his preferred attire,said in a hit song that he wore the color in honor of the poor andoppressed. He was buried in a black coffin with silver handles.
As the service came to end, country singer Larry Gatlinaddressed his own son, Joshua Cash Gatlin, from the pulpit: ''Son,this man fed your mama and me when we couldn't afford food. He paidrent for us when we couldn't pay rent.''
For more than four decades, beginning in the 1950s as a peer ofElvis Presley in Memphis, Cash specialized in earthy songs abouthard times and brooding love songs. His hits range from therockabilly anthem ''Get Rhythm,'' to the comical ''A Boy NamedSue,'' to the recent ''Hurt,'' about the ravages of drug abuse.
Cash rose to fame in his late 20s, but his career was nearlyderailed by an addiction to pills. He credited his wife, CarterCash, whom he married in 1968, for helping him beat theaddiction.
His commercial peak was from 1969-71 when he had a networktelevision show with guests including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell andKristofferson.
After a dip in record sales that lasted nearly two decades, Cashpartnered with rock-rap producer Rick Rubin and recorded fourcritically lauded albums that found him a new, youngeraudience.
After the death of Carter Cash in May, Cash spent most of histime recording, leaving more than 30 songs yet to be released. Hehad planned to attend the MTV Video Music Awards shortly before hisdeath, but couldn't because of illness. His video for ''Hurt'' wonan award for cinematography at that show, and he has fournominations at the Country Music Association Awards inNovember.
The funeral program listed the active pallbearers as countrysingers Gatlin, Marty Stuart and producer Randy Scruggs. Honorarypallbearers included Kristofferson; Rubin; singers Rodney Crowelland Willie Nelson; Marshall Grant, who played bass in Cash'soriginal band; and his brother Tommy Cash.
A public memorial was also being planned.
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