Former President James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr., the 39th President of the United States, has passed away at the age of 100, as announced by the Carter Center. He had been receiving hospice care since February 2023, following the death of his wife, Rosalynn Carter, in November 2023.
In a heartfelt statement, one of Carter’s sons reflected, “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. We shared him with the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together.”
Born into a peanut-farming family in rural Georgia, Carter held a profound love for music, which he championed during his presidency. He emphasized music as a vital cultural connector, fostering relationships with artists like Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, and the Allman Brothers. His passion for music became a significant aspect of his outreach and diplomacy, especially following the turbulent era of Richard Nixon’s administration. This connection was further explored in the 2020 documentary highlighting his life and legacy.
Carter’s political journey began in 1962 with his election to the Georgia State Senate. His early experiences with gospel music in churches shaped his worldview, leading him to regard gospel as “rural music” that transcends racial boundaries. His political ascent took place amid the civil rights movement, during which he took a bold stand against segregation.
In the early 1970s, as a key figure in the New South movement, Carter emerged from a state rich in musical heritage, boasting iconic artists like James Brown, Ray Charles, and Otis Redding. The Allman Brothers, recognized as one of the first racially integrated rock bands as of 1970, represented the cultural shift that Carter actively supported. He believed in the universal right to dignity and free expression, and during his inauguration as Governor of Georgia in 1971, he proclaimed, “The time of racial discrimination is over.”
