Music legend, Johnny Cash, dies aged 71

Cash was being treated at the Baptist Hospital in Nashville, where he died on Friday morning at 1am EDT. He was suffering from diabetes-related complications which resulted in respiratory failure. Family members were at his bedside when he passed away.

Cash was due to travel to California next week to finish recording songs for the latest in his American Recordings series, the songs were written after his country singer wife June Carter Cash died in May this year.

Johnny Cash, whose career spanned more than four decades, had the most widely recognised voice in country music, recording more than 1,500 songs, which appeared on nearly 500 albums. Over his lifetime he had achieved legendary status and collected 10 Grammy's including a lifetime achievement award and the 1998 Grammy for country album of the year.

Funeral details are to be confirmed.