Former United States President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100.
Carter’s death was announced by the Carter Center, the late President’s non-profit organisation and a statement from his son Chip. Per the statement, Carter died peacefully and was surrounded by his family. His death at 100 also made him the longest living President in US history.
Chip said of his father: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”
President Carter – full name James Earl Carter Jr. – served as the 39th President of the United States between 1977 and 1981. Besides his presidency, Carter was celebrated for his humanitarian work, and for championing music in politics.
Carter’s affinity for music would see him champion and emphasise the importance of music’s cultural presence and a connecting point for people. This was further cemented by his friendships with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and the Allman Brothers, earning him the titled of Rock & Roll President.
President Jimmy Carter and Willie Nelson. Credit: Thomas S. England/Getty Images
President Carter’s love for music was later chronicled in the 2020 documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President. In the documentary, Bob Dylan said of Carter: “[Carter] put my mind at ease by not talking down to me, and showing me that he had a sincere appreciation of the songs I had written. He’s a kindred spirit to me of a rare kind.”
Carter’s ability to connect with people across political lines saw the likes of John Lennon and John Wayne attend his inauguration celebration in 1977, with Aretha Franklin singing ‘God Bless America’. Paul Simon also dedicated ‘American Tune’ to the President.
During his time in Office, Carter and his administration often hosted concerts and musical guests in the White House, including Dolly Parton, Charles Mingus, Willie Nelson and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
In a newly published Rolling Stone interview with Allman Brothers’ Dickey Betts dating back to February 2023, Betts spoke of Carter, recalling how they met and became friends: “We became close to him, and he asked us if we’d help with his campaign [with benefit concerts]. We’d met governors and things like that, but they never really included us. Jimmy was a friend to rock music, so a lot of the guys helped him out a great deal.”
Jimmy Carter. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images
Outside of his championing of music, Carter was also a prolific philanthropist and humanitarian, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development”.
Carter’s 100th birthday was celebrated in September with performances from Killer Mike, Drive-by Truckers, Eric Church and more.
Tributes to Carter have begun rolling in since the news of his death on Sunday (December 29). See a handful of them below, including posts from current President Joe Biden, King Charles and more.
When I look at Jimmy Carter, I see a man not only for our times, but for all times. A man who embodied the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away.
And while we may never see his likes again, we would all do well to try to be a little more like Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/I0xDM05xmH
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 30, 2024
A condolence message from The King to President Biden and the American people following the death of former US President Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/EIZqj7MZeb
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 29, 2024
Hillary’s and my statement on the passing of President Jimmy Carter: pic.twitter.com/SOgqTZUdi6
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) December 29, 2024
President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man. https://t.co/dZHL0Nu0Tj
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2024
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