500 Johnny Cash fans are expected to protest outside the US Republican Party's convention in New York later this week to protest against the inclusion of a Cash Tribute event during the political conference. The music fans argue that, while Cash never revealed his political leanings, his lyrics and other comments he made demonstrated he supported many causes to which the Republican movement has little sympathy. Therefore they feel it is inappropriate to stage an event which implies Cash's endorsement of the Republican Party.
However Cash's family have said they are not opposing the tribute event because it has been designed to also honour Republican Senator Lamar Alexander who was a friend of both Cash and his late wife June Carter Cash. Cash's daughter Rosanne told reporters last week that Cash estate did not object to the event because it was based on the "personal relationship between our family and [Sen Alexander], not as a show of support for the Republican agenda".