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The Man In Black himself, country legend Johnny Cash has died in hospital at the age of 71.
Cash had recently been treated for a stomach complaint, but was released from hospital a few days before his death. He outlived his wife - and longterm musical companion - June Carter by a matter of weeks.
Cash was enjoying a massive late resurgence in popularity, thanks to a brilliant series of stripped-down acoustic albums, which included inspired cover versions of contemporary artists, ranging from U2 to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. Most recently his cover of Nine Inch Nails' classic 'Hurt' won enormous acclaim, accompanied by a brutally self-examining video.
Johnny Cash will be missed not only by the Nashville country aristocracy but also by a new generation of fans across the world who discovered his work in the last few years.
