The estate of country legend Johnny Cash has filed a lawsuit against Coca-Cola, accusing the company of illegally using a tribute singer to mimic Cash's voice in a college football advertisement. The federal complaint, filed in Nashville on November 25, 2025, marks the first major case under Tennessee's ELVIS Act, which protects artists' voices from unauthorized exploitation. The estate seeks an injunction to stop the ad and financial damages for alleged rights violations.
Lawsuit Details
The John R. Cash Revocable Trust, managing the estate of the singer who died in 2003, claims Coca-Cola hired professional tribute performer Shawn Barker to imitate Cash's distinctive bass-baritone in a jingle for a commercial airing since August 2025 during college football games. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Nashville, alleges this constitutes unauthorized use of Cash's likeness without seeking a license from the estate.
Tim Warnock, a lawyer for the estate from Loeb & Loeb, stated: “Stealing the voice of an artist is theft. It is theft of his integrity, identity and humanity. 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.” The complaint further describes the ad as “Coca-Cola’s pirating Johnny Cash’s voice in a nationwide advertising campaign to enrich itself — without asking for permission or providing any compensation."
ELVIS Act Context
Enacted in 2024, Tennessee's Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security (ELVIS) Act expands the state's right of publicity to safeguard voices against nonconsensual use, particularly from AI deepfakes, though no AI is alleged here. The estate routinely licenses Cash's intellectual property, such as his songs “Ragged Old Flag” and “Personal Jesus” for Super Bowl broadcasts, but claims Coca-Cola bypassed this process.
The suit also invokes Tennessee's consumer protection statute and a federal law against false endorsements. Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Barker's manager, Joey Waterman, expressed enthusiasm about the performer's involvement, noting his two-decade career with the tribute show “The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash.”
Historical Precedents
This case echoes past litigation, like Bette Midler's 1980s victory against Ford for using an impersonator in ads, which established voice protections in commercial contexts. More recently, Rick Astley settled a 2023 suit against Yung Gravy over voice mimicry in the song “Betty (Get Money).” The ELVIS Act could broaden such claims beyond ads.