Rosanne Cash's musical career began over four decades ago with her first album in 1979. It was the subsequent record, "Seven Year Ache," that brought her the first No. 1 with its title track. During the next decade, she lit up the country charts with a series of No. 1 hits like "Blue Moon with Heartache," "Tennessee Flat Top Box," and "Runaway Train."

Her Unique Musical Identity

With her distinct vocal style, songwriting talent, and extensive catalogue that blends country, country rock, pop, and Americana, the four-time GRAMMY winner has firmly established her place in music history. To celebrate her significant contributions, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled a new exhibit: "Rosanne Cash: Time Is A Mirror."

Initial Hesitation

For Cash, who focuses more on the art and craft of making music rather than fame and commercial success, she was initially a bit apprehensive about an entire exhibit dedicated solely to her. "I was a bit nervous beforehand," she admits. "When I walked through it the night before it opened, I kept going in and out, as if looking at someone else's life and then at mine."

Touching Moments in the Exhibit

As she explored the exhibit from one display case to another, she was genuinely touched. Her father's desk, which she inherited after his death and is at the centerpiece of the exhibit, holds a sculpture of her hands made by her dear friend Sheila Burger. The curators somehow knew about this and brought the hands from her New York apartment to Nashville.There are also things from her childhood that foreshadowed her gift for writing. A diary from when she was nine years old, with a picture of a bird she drew, now holds special meaning. Her son even wanted to get a tattoo of that bird.When she regained her voice after having polyps removed from her vocal cords and recorded "September When It Comes" in 2003 as a duet with her father, who was battling his own health issues and passed away later that year, it was a poignant moment.The different outfits on display brought back special memories. For example, one jacket she wore at the Roxi in Los Angeles in the 80s brought back everything about that show, including the chord she missed and the LA Times review the next day.

Embracing Her Heritage

In the early days, she was determined to chart her own musical path independent of her famous father, Johnny Cash. Years later, after achieving success through her own talent and hard work, she felt more at ease embracing her heritage. "I was determined and persistent because in the first years, I couldn't escape his shadow. I had to keep going. And at some point, in my late 30s and early 40s, I realized it was time to accept that legacy as part of my DNA."

Grateful for the Recognition

She is grateful that the Country Music Hall of Fame wanted to highlight her work and career. She was excited to see close friends and fellow musicians like Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, and Vince Gill join her for the exhibit's opening.As she reflects on her accomplishments, she is proud of carving out her own spot and building her own legacy. It's rooted in her past, not just her father but also her Scottish ancestors. She is also proud of raising her children to be decent people.Cash is a prolific writer and is currently working on a new album. She and her husband are writing the music for a stage play about Norma Rae and have already completed half of it. The songs are mostly co-written with her husband, John Leventhal, where she writes the lyrics and he writes the music.The "Rosanne Cash: Time Is a Mirror" exhibit is open now (through March 2026), and visitors can view it with the regular admission fee at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.