Jimmy Carter loves music, and last night at Atlanta’s historic Fox Theatre an unlikely cast of admirers let the “rock and roll president” know they love him too. Carter, who turns 100 on Oct. 1.
, was at home in Plains, Ga., but that didn’t stop Angelique Kidjo, the B-52s, BeBe Winans, Carlene Carter, Chuck Leavell, D-Nice, Drive-By Truckers, Duane Betts , Eric Church, Gtrouplove, India Arie , Lalah Hathaway, the War And Treaty, the Rickey Minor Band, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus from celebrating what Carter’s life and presidency means to them. Since leaving the White House in January 1981, Jimmy Carter has promoted peace, fair elections, and disease eradication with the Carter Center.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and built homes for Habitat for Humanity along with former first lady Rosalynn, who died last year . But Carter’s stamp on popular culture is also linked to the songs that inspired him — and got him elected. From an 1835 hymn to a 1930 Hoagy Carmichael classic, Xhosa lyrics from South Africa and 1970s Allman Brothers Band jams, “Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song” demonstrated the strong connections between the music in Carter’s life and his global reach as a humanitarian leader.
The evening kicked off with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus’ stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful,” followed by a welcome from Jason Carter, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Carter Center, and a mini super.