Which Johnny Cash song became his first Billboard country number-one single in 1956?

Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line” became his first Billboard country number-one single in 1956.

Cash recorded the song at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, with producer Sam Phillips. Its distinctive sound came partly from Cash placing a piece of paper between the strings of his guitar, creating a muted, rhythmic effect.

The single was released by Sun Records in May 1956 and remained at number one on Billboard’s country chart for six weeks. It also crossed into the pop market, demonstrating Cash’s unusual ability to connect country, rockabilly, and mainstream audiences.

The title is often interpreted as a promise of marital fidelity to Cash’s first wife, Vivian Liberto. Cash later rerecorded the song several times, but the 1956 version remains the best-known recording.