When singer-songwriter Carlene Carter thinks of home, it’s the stone house at 1020 Gibson Drive in Madison that she remembers. 

Her father, Carl Smith, bought the house in 1952, shortly before his marriage to June Carter, her mother. When the country stars divorced in 1956, June and Carlene continued to live in the home.

June Carter and Merle Kilgore co-wrote the country classic “Ring of Fire” in the house in 1963, and soon after, Johnny Cash took the song to the top of the charts. 

Country music keystone (and June’s mother) Maybelle Carter moved into the house with her husband in 1971, and remained there until her death in 1978.

On Sunday afternoon, Nashville Mayor David Briley, Councilwoman Nancy VanReece, and the house's current owner, Todd Mayo (creator of the Bluegrass Underground and Music City Roots), unveiled a historical marker at the end of the 13-acre property's winding driveway. 

"Nashville is under more pressure now than probably ever before to homogenize," said Briley in a brief speech. "It's only though things like this that we're going to protect what is great about Nashville."

After the unveiling, Carlene Carter performed in the old barn she remembered as "a kid's dream come true ... a tree house on the ground."

“I’m trying not to get too emotional or sad, because this is a celebration,” she said. "I’m so happy (the property) is being protected, because my biggest fear always was that this would get developed.”


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