As the former President approaches his 100th birthday, Jimmy Carter has etched his name in the history books once again. Just a month after turning 100 years old, the 39th President of the United States has received his 10th Grammy Award nomination, this time for his latest spoken-word album, “Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration.”
Renowned artists Darius Rucker and LeAnn Rimes perform classic songs like “America the Beautiful” and “Amazing Grace” on the 10-track album, which Virgin Music released in August. But the true heart of the album lies in the recordings of Carter’s own Sunday school lessons delivered at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, over the years.
“Let’s celebrate and honor President Carter’s remarkable wisdom through the jubilant power of music,” said Kabir Sehgal, a longtime Carter family friend who orchestrated the album. “His teachings have inspired us all. Music is a perfect medium to express the joy and gratitude we feel for him.”
The album touches on themes Carter has championed throughout his remarkable life—the importance of love, kindness, forgiveness, and reconciliation. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who has dedicated his life to humanitarian causes and advancing peace around the world.
If the album secures Carter the Grammy, it would make him the oldest person to ever win the prestigious award. The current record holder is blues pianist Pinetop Perkins, who won at the age of 97. Carter’s most recent Grammy win came in 2019 for his album “Faith: A Journey for All.” Carter had previously won in the same category in 2016 for “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety” and in 2007 for “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis.”
Carter faces some stiff competition this year, with fellow nominees including music icons Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton, as well as singer George Clinton and producer Guy Oldfield. But the former president’s inspirational message and remarkable life story are sure to resonate with the Recording Academy’s voters.
Carter, at 100 years old, persists in overcoming the challenges he faces. He is currently in hospice care, with his family saying he is “coming to the end” of his life. But even as his health declines, the former President has remained steadfast in his commitment to making the world a better place.
“I would like our presidential candidates to keep our country at peace and to be champions of human rights, of environmental quality, and of equality,” Carter said in the album. “Aren’t those things you would like to have? It puts the responsibility on us as Americans to make our country better by helping to give somebody else a better life.”
Just days after former President Donald Trump’s reelection in the 2024 election, Carter received his Grammy nomination. In a recent interview, Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, revealed that the former president cast an absentee ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris in the election.
Before entering politics, Carter was a peanut farmer and U.S. Navy lieutenant. He went on to serve one term as governor of Georgia and as president from 1977 to 1981. In the decades since leaving the White House, Carter has remained an active and influential figure, founding The Carter Center with his wife Rosalynn to advance democracy, human rights, and health initiatives around the world.
Carter’s humanitarian work and tireless efforts to promote peace earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He is the oldest living former U.S. president, having surpassed the late George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018 at the age of 94.
Despite his advanced age and declining health, Carter has continued to speak out about the importance of protecting democracy both at home and abroad. His message of unity, compassion, and service has resonated with people around the world, and it’s a fitting capstone to a remarkable life that has left an indelible mark on history.
As Carter approaches the end of his days, his 10th Grammy nomination serves as a testament to his lasting impact and the timeless wisdom he has shared throughout his life. Regardless of the outcome, the legacy of the former president will persist, motivating future generations to emulate him and contribute to a better world.