The 40 Annual Grammy Awards took place on this day (February 25) in 1998 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. That night, Johnny Cash walked away with three awards. He earned two Grammy Hall of Fame Awards for a pair of classic songs. He also took home Best Country Album for American II: Unchained, his second album with legendary producer Rick Rubin.
The Grammy Hall of Fame Award celebrates recordings-songs or albums-that have lasting qualitative or historical significance. To be eligible for this award, the recording has to be at least 25 years old. In short, this special honor goes to songs or albums that stood the test of time and helped to shape their respective genres. Cash won a total of five of these awards, one of which was awarded posthumously. He won his first two Grammy Hall of Fame trophies in 1998 for "I Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire." Both songs gave the singer/songwriter early hits and helped him rise to the level of country music legend.
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Cash didn't just win awards for his previous recordings, though. He also took home Best Country Album for Unchained, his second release on Rubin's American Recordings label. The album saw Cash recording covers and revisiting classics from his catalog.
Johnny Cash found critical acclaim with Unchained. However, the album was largely ignored by country radio. As a result, the album's sole single, a cover of Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage" failed to chart. The album peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart.
Despite its lack of radio play and middling chart performance, Unchained saw Cash collaborating with some of the biggest names in music at the time. For instance, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were his backing band for the album. Petty provided vocals, guitar, bass, and keys to the album. Mike Campbell played guitar, bass, mandolin, and Dobro.
The guest appearances don't stop there, though. Country legend and longtime Cash collaborator Marty Stuart played guitar on more than half of the album's tracks. Additionally, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea played on "Spiritual." Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac also appeared on the album. Buckingham played guitar and Fleetwood added percussion on Cash's cover of the Don Gibson classic "Sea of Heartbreak."