I remember meeting a 100-year-old woman in the grocery store aisle here in Atlanta in 2016. She was interested in what I was buying since she “liked trying new things,” but I was more interested in her since she casually mentioned that she had just celebrated her 100th birthday. I asked her what her secret to longevity was and she replied with a smile, “Growing up in the country and having parents who love each other.”
Now that I think back to our conversation, I can only believe that her theory will prove true as President Jimmy Carter, a native of Plains, Georgia and nearly 100-year-old, celebrates his 100th birthday.
If there are two things that both political parties agree on, it’s that 1) living to be 100 is a remarkable accomplishment and 2) Jimmy Carter left a legacy like no other. With Jimmy Carter’s October 1st birthday approaching, more and more fascinating stories are emerging about how he spent his time outside of the White House.
Jimmy Carter enjoyed being outdoors and paddling on rivers. He also enjoyed listening to good music and dancing with his love, Rosalynn Carter. And while it’s fascinating to see Jimmy Carter gliding through Class V rapids on the Chattooga River and championing Georgia’s waterways, perhaps the most interesting part of this “Jim” of all trades’ legacy is that he naturally formed friendships with so many rock, folk, jazz and gospel musicians.
In the 2020 documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President, lead producer Chris Farrell revisits decades of memories of Jimmy Carter and his long-standing friendships with the Allman Brothers, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and many other legendary singers and songwriters. Jimmy Carter shared the stage with legendary artists at the Fox Theater several times during his campaign in the 1970s and was known for incorporating the powerful and unifying power of music throughout his presidency.
Old friends of Carter, some of them famous legends, and other long-time friends from his hometown church share their admiration for his love of music in the documentary. One recalls that he regularly attended the black church and really showed off his talent for gospel singing, not even having to pick up the hymn book because he already knew all the songs.
Bob Dylan says that his greatest respect for Carter, himself a poet, came when he was invited to the Governor’s Mansion, recognizing his genuine appreciation for the songs Dylan had written. Looking back on his long friendship with Carter, he describes him as a “simple man… just like the Lynyrd Skynyrd song.” The Allman Brothers included a story about them finishing a bottle of J&B scotch while Carter stood barefoot and shirtless on his porch. Bono jokes that Carter himself would have been in the Allman Brothers if his hair had been just a little longer.
In another interview featured in the film, Chip Carter, Jimmy’s son, says that he would have felt very isolated during his childhood in Plains, Georgia, if it hadn’t been for the radio at home, which he remembers as his “only other contact with the outside world.”
“When we had no money at all, Dad spent $600 on the best stereo in Plains, Georgia,” he added.
Carter’s deep and genuine understanding of music helped him reach the younger voters of the time. The late, great Jimmy Buffett even joined him in his campaign in Oregon. In his interview, he notes that Carter was trying to raise a generation with someone who was “hip enough to get it.”
Carter recalls retreating to his White House study during the Iran hostage crisis to listen to Willie Nelson’s gospel album. “I listened to the album, thought about my options, and prayed,” he says.
As the Fox Theatre prepares to host a star-studded evening honoring Jimmy Carter’s 100th year around the sun, it’s truly coming full circle, and so many of his friends and family agree that this is the perfect celebration. Presented by Delta, “Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song” takes place at the Fox Theatre on September 17 at 7:30 p.m. and features artists such as Chuck Leavell, D-Nice, Drive-By Truckers, Eric Church, GROUPLOVE, Maren Morris, The War And Treaty and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus, with more artists added weekly.
There will be performances by famous friends and dignitaries who love Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and the organization they founded over 40 years ago: the Carter Center. As President Carter once said, “Music is the best proof that people have one thing in common, no matter where they live, no matter what language they speak.”
Tickets are $100 – in honor of Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday – and are available here. Proceeds from the event benefit the Carter Center and continue Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s work to promote peace and improve health around the world.
