Row over 'political' Cash tribute

Cash's family has not objected to the tribute

A planned tribute to late country star Johnny Cash at next week's Republican convention in New York has attracted harsh criticism from some fans.

Cash, who died in September, never revealed his political leanings.

"I find this really offensive, for his name or his memory to be used like this," said fan Erin Siegal, a 22-year-old student from Brooklyn.

Her campaign hopes to attract 500 fans to protest outside the tribute at Sotheby's auction house on Tuesday.

"A lot of his political songs really represented issues the Republicans don't really seem to care about very much," Ms Siegal said.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down, Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town, I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime, But is there because he's a victim of the times Johnny Cash Man in Black

Cash often sang about the poor and imprisoned and said he wore black all the time to symbolise the downtrodden people of the world.

The event will be attended by Republican delegates from Tennessee, where Cash had a home.

Tennessee Republican Party chairwoman Beth Harwell said it was "a way for us to honour a great Tennessean".

"A lot of the Tennessee delegates love Johnny Cash's music," she said.

It will also honour Senator Lamar Alexander, who was a friend of Cash and his late wife June Carter Cash.

Cash's daughter Rosanne said the Cash estate did not object to the event because it was based on the "personal relationship between our family and [Sen Alexander], NOT as a show of support for the Republican agenda".

The event will tie in with the auction of more than 650 items belonging to Cash, including a guitar estimated to be worth $15,000 (£8,500).