backThe estate of country music icon Johnny Cash has filed a lawsuit in the United States against Coca-Cola, accusing the company of unlawfully exploiting Cash’s likeness by using a singer who mimicked his voice in a nationally broadcast commercial. The lawsuit, brought in federal court in Nashville, argues that the ad campaign “Fan Work Is Thirsty Work” misled viewers into believing that Cash’s family had endorsed or approved the promotion.
According to the complaint, Coca-Cola hired a tribute performer known for sounding strikingly similar to Cash, and social media reactions noted how closely the voice in the commercial resembled the legendary singer. The filing also cites a landmark 1988 ruling in which Bette Midler successfully sued Ford Motor Company for using a soundalike without her consent. The Cash estate is seeking to block further broadcasts of the commercial and is requesting unspecified damages. The case remains pending in U.S. federal court.
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