Johnny Cash estate suing Coca-Cola for use of tribute act in advert
The estate of Johnny Cash is suing Coca-Cola for illegally hiring a tribute act to impersonate the late US country singer in an advertisement for the drink.
The advert, which plays between college football games, includes singer Shawn Barker, who works as a professional Cash impersonator. The case against the company has been filed under the Elvis Act of Tennessee, which was made effective in 2024.
The Act protects a person’s voice from exploitation without consent. The estate said that, while it previously licensed Cash songs to Coca-Cola, the brand did not approach them for permission on this occasion.
Tim Warnock, lawyer for the Cash estate, shared, “Stealing the voice of an artist is theft. It is theft of his integrity, identity, and humanity.”
He added, “The trust brings this lawsuit to protect the voice of Johnny Cash – and to send a message that protects the voice of all of the artists whose music enriches our lives.”
Therefore, the estate is seeking to remove the ad from the air. It is also seeking damages under the Elvis act, as well as damages for alleged violations of consumer protections in Tennessee.
As per The Guardian, the complaint said, “This case arises from Coca-Cola’s pirating Johnny Cash’s voice in a nationwide advertising campaign to enrich itself – without asking for permission or providing any compensation to the humble man and artist who created the goodwill from which Coca-Cola now profits.”
Coca-Cola have yet to comment on the matter, though Barker’s manager, Joey Waterman, has previously shared that Shawn was “thrilled when we were approached to have Shawn sing vocals for this commercial”.
He continued, “Shawn Barker has been performing with his Cash tribute The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash for over two decades, touring the world sharing his love of Johnny Cash’s music and stories with fans both old and new.”
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