Johnny Cash's Scottish Roots Explored in New Documentary

Johnny Cash might seem as Southern as biscuits and gravy -- having been born in the backwoods of Arkansas, and made his name in Nashville, Tennessee -- but a new documentary explores the unlikely Scottish ancestry of the Man in Black. 'Johnny Cash Of Easter Cash' airs on BBC Radio 4 at 10.30am Saturday (Feb. 13) and recounts Cash's connection to the village of Falkland, in Fife.

The country star visited the area at least three times -- including once to film a 1981 Christmas special -- after meeting a member of the family who owns Falkland Palace in the late 1970s and learning of a number of Cash references in the street and farm names of the area. Intrigued, Cash traced his ancestry back to 12th century royal Malcolm IV, a niece of whom (with the surname Cash or Cashel) married the Earl of Fife. The singer also learned that his family name had apparently arrived in America via a 17th century seaman, William Cash.

The documentary sees Falkland villagers recount their meetings with the musical legend, and, later on, his daughter Rosanne. Ms. Cash reveals that her father was so taken with his Celtic roots, he even checked into the hospital under the name Malcolm during his final days.

A touching tale, but we should perhaps be grateful that Cash only discovered his Scottish roots later in life -- would the Man in Black have cut such an iconic rock 'n' roll figure had he styled himself the Man in Tartan?