Nearly six months after the estate of legendary country icon Johnny Cash sued The Coca-Cola Company over claims that the company illegally imitated Cash’s voice in a college football commercial, Coca-Cola is now fighting back in court.
Coca-Cola Wants the Case Dismissed
In a legal response filed May 8 in federal court in Nashville, Coca-Cola denied accusations that it unlawfully exploited Johnny Cash’s identity through the use of a “sound-alike” singer in one of its advertisements.
The Atlanta-based beverage giant asked District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw Jr. to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, which would prevent the case from being refiled. Coca-Cola is also seeking attorney fees from the trust managing Cash’s estate.
The dispute centers around a commercial that began airing during college football broadcasts in August 2025. According to the lawsuit, the ad featured vocals from professional Johnny Cash tribute performer Shawn Barker, whose voice allegedly sounds strikingly similar to the late country legend.
Why Johnny Cash’s Estate Filed the Lawsuit
The lawsuit was originally filed in November 2025 by the John R. Cash Revocable Trust, which oversees the legacy and intellectual property rights of Johnny Cash.
Attorneys for the estate argued that Coca-Cola intentionally used a singer whose voice closely resembled Cash’s in order to create the impression that the “Ring of Fire” star himself was featured in the commercial.
“Stealing the voice of an artist is theft. It is theft of his integrity, identity and humanity,” attorney Tim Warnock of Loeb & Loeb wrote in the complaint.
The estate claims Coca-Cola never sought permission or licensing rights to use Cash’s voice — or anything that could reasonably be mistaken for it.
Since Cash’s death in 2003, the estate has reportedly licensed his voice only twice, both for Super Bowl advertisements. The lawsuit argues that Coca-Cola bypassed that process entirely by hiring an advertising agency that then enlisted Barker to record the vocals.
A Landmark Case Under Tennessee’s ELVIS Act
The lawsuit is particularly significant because it is among the first major legal battles tied to Tennessee’s Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act — commonly known as the ELVIS Act.
Signed into law in March 2024 by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, the legislation was designed to protect artists from unauthorized use of their voice, likeness, and image, especially in the rapidly evolving age of artificial intelligence.
Interestingly, the Cash estate is not accusing Coca-Cola of using AI technology in the commercial. Instead, the lawsuit focuses on the alleged use of a human performer specifically chosen to imitate Cash’s recognizable vocal style.
What Happens Next?
The John R. Cash Revocable Trust is seeking a jury trial along with compensatory damages expected to exceed $75,000.
The case could become a major legal test for how far voice-protection laws extend — not just in cases involving AI-generated voices, but also when companies use human impersonators who closely resemble famous artists.
As the music and advertising industries continue to navigate evolving technology and identity rights, the outcome of this case may help define the future boundaries of artistic ownership and celebrity voice protection.