By Cheryl Tatum

Hendersonville Star News

Tommy Cash watched in a stunned, dismayed silence as the historic home his brother Johnny Cash and wife June Carter Cash lived in until their deaths burn Tuesday afternoon.

The home on Caudill Drive in Hendersonville was in the final stages of renovation by its new owner singer, songwriter Barry Gibb. Gibb purchased the home in January 2006 and, according to singer T.G. Sheppard planned to move in around July 4th of this year.

³We just called Barry on the phone and told him the house was burning,² Sheppard said. ³He didnıt know. He is at his home in Miami.² ³I just canıt talk right now,² Tommy Cash said as he watched the lakeside house burn.

Spectators lined the roadway as the watched a part of the city and the music industryıs history burn.

³Iıve been in this house many times with Johnny and June. This is just devastating,² said William Lee Golden who along with his wife Brenda stood on the hillside across the street from the Cash home.

Fire officials, who are still on the scene have not determined a cause for the blaze. The house was built in 1968 and was the home for the country music couple for 35 years.