Johnny Cash back in hospital

Cash: Known as the 'Man in Black'

Country music legend Johnny Cash has returned to hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, his sixth hospital visit since 1998.

Cash, 69, suffers from autonomic neuropathy, a degenerative disease which makes him susceptible to pneumonia and bronchitis.

A spokeswoman for Baptist Hospital said they were not concerned at his condition.

"He's doing well and we expect him to be out shortly," said Jessica Etz.

Cash was last hospitalised on 7 October with bronchitis and discharged on 22 October, and this illness is a recurrence of that attack.

Known as the Man in Black - due to his favoured colour of clothing - Cash is considered the inspiration for a generation of country music singers.

His hits include A Boy Named Sue, Ring of Fire and A Thing Called Love. He has sold more than 50 million records during a career spanning five decades. He has also won eight Grammy Awards.

Born into a poor family in Arkansas in 1932, Cash claims to have only ever had one singing lesson, in which he was given the advice: "Never change your voice."

Hall of Fame

He has since lent his distinctive bass tones to songs of coal miners, convicts and cowboys.

In a life shadowed by drug and alcohol problems, Cash has was once fined $85,000 (£58,000) for starting a forest fire.

He has not toured since 1997 but his last album, American III: Solitary Man was released at the end of last year.

He is the only person to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.