Matthew McConaughey Performs Johnny Cash’s “The Man Comes Around”

Johnny Cash was honored with a very special tribute concert in 2012 titled We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash.

Taking place at Moody Theater in Austin, Texas in honor of The Man In Black’s 80th birthday, Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was got some of Cash’s very good friends and comrades together to pay tribute to the late musician. Hosted by Matthew McConaughey, the night included several appearances by Kris Kristofferson, who performed “Big River,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” and of course, “Highwayman.” Shooter Jennings and Jamey Johnson took over for the late Waylon Jennings and Cash.

The night turned into a live album recording, which featured 21 performances, and was released on August 7, 2012.

All of the profits from ticket sales from the event, as well as album sales, benefitted a non-profit organization called Charley’s Fund, which raises money to help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Performances of “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire,” “Hurt,” and many more were included on the album, but there was one performance that didn’t make it – McConaughey’s cover of “The Man Comes Around.” His performance was included on the DVD version.

Cash released “The Man Comes Around” in 2002 on his album American IV: The Man Comes Around.

Like many of his songs before, he sings and speaks in the recoding, and makes a number of references to the Bible. It is said to be one of the very last songs the icon ever wrote before his death on September 12, 2002.

This was the perfect song for McConaughey to perform, as his iconic voice was the perfect addition to the speaking parts of the song. The fans obviously knew he was hosting the event, but when he stayed on stage and a guitar player began strumming, the crowd went wild!

Watch McConaughey perform “The Man Comes Around” at We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash.