Daughter of June Carter Cash and Stepdaugher of Johnny Cash

Ballymaloe Grainstore is thrilled to welcome genuine country music royalty, Carlene Carter,  the daughter of country music legends June Carter Cash and Carl Smith, stepdaughter of Johnny Cash, and granddaughter of “Mother” Maybelle Carter of the original historic Carter Family.  The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter comes to the East Cork venue on Wednesday 15 June at 8pm.

With her new album, Carter Girl, Carlene Carter once and for all proclaims who she is.  The CD features songs spanning the Carter Family generations, including celebrated Carter Family songs like “Gold Watch And Chain,” and others written and performed by the descendants of the original Carter trio – including Carlene herself.

Not that she’s ever shied away from being the heiress to the legacy of country music’s foremost family. “I always include at least one Carter Family song, or one written in the Carter Family spirit,” says Carlene. She has also covered many songs made famous by her stepfather, Johnny Cash, including “Ring of Fire”.

Carlene has established herself on the edgier end of the country music spectrum, having recorded with greats such as Graham Parker,  Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson.  The latter, she says, is “one of the only people still living who was very close to my father, my mom, my grandma, aunts, Johnny – everybody. ”

Carlene co-wrote hit songs for Emmylou Harris (“Easy From Now On”) and The Doobie Brothers (“One Step Closer”), shared the Top 40 Pop duet “I Couldn’t Say No” with Robert Ellis Orrall, then “came home to country” in the 1990s with hits like “I Fell in Love”, “Come On Back”, “Every Little Thing”, and her own TV shows on VH1 and TNN.

Following her 2008 Stronger CD (which Elvis Costello called “astounding”), Carlene Carter returned with Carter Girl, a tribute to the timeless music of her historic family.

She recently supported John Mellencamp on his 80-date Plain Spoken tour.

Tickets for Carlene Carter in Ballymaloe Grainstore on Wednesday 15 June are €22.  They can be purchased on www.ballymaloegrainstore.com or on 021 465 2531