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Jason Carter opens Jimmy Carter 100, a benefit concert held Sept. 17 at the Fox Theatre.
Credit: Courtesy of The Carter Center and Rick Diamond
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The inspiration that is 'Jimmy Carter 100'
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Arguably the only thing that may be more inspiring than the Jimmy Carter 100 benefit concert airing Oct. 1 on GPB-TV is that the former president is here to watch it.
That — as his grandson Jason Carter suggested at the beginning of the event — 100 years after James Earl Carter Jr. was born in Plains, Ga., he's witnessing the thousands in attendance at the Fox Theatre Sept. 17:
Laughing at the footage of the onetime peanut farmer awkwardly trying to latch onto the acrobatic medley of jazz great Dizzy Gillespie's bebop "Salt Peanuts."
Making room in front of their seats or the aisles to dance as the turntablist who brought us Club Quarantine during the pandemic — DJ Nice — spins through a playlist including Steve Wonder's "I Wish", Aretha Franklin's "Rock Steady" and Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen."
Trying not to cry when a picture of Carter and his late wife, Rosalyn — beaming at each other — appeared, towering over two-time Oscar winner Renée Zellweger as she detailed "a love story for the ages."
Playing air guitar while the late Dickie Betts' son Dwayne rocks on the real thing with his dad's fellow Allman Brothers Band member Chuck Leavell. (And, by the end of the live three-hour show, wondering who Leavell can't accompany, given the musician for the Rolling Stones' many reappearances at the keyboard.)
Tilting their heads waaaaay back as the immense vocal force that is the country duo The War and Treaty emanated from the stage.
If they were especially brave, attempting to hit Kate Pierson's "Tiiiiinnnn Roof/Rusted" near the end of The B-52's "Love Shack." ( And yes, 35 years after the single was released the Athens' cosmic rockers still sounded vinyl-perfect.)
Listening closely — per R&B singer-songwriter India Arie's request — to every word the elegant singer in purple cooed could be heard, and felt.
"What if Martin didn't stand up?
What if Rosa didn't sit down?
What if Malcolm didn't man up?
Where would we be now?"
Marveling not only at the many earned plaudits offered Carter — after a live performance and in recorded tributes — but the array of notables sharing them.
(President Biden declared Carter "one of the most influential statesman in our history. I admire you so darned much."
"The finest human being to ever walk this planet," offered Leavell.
"There are people in this world who have houses built by Jimmy Carter. He touches people. He changes lives," echoed comedian Jon Stewart.
"We, the King family, are forever grateful," civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.'s youngest child, Bernice King, shared.
"The biggest Braves fan on the planet," said Terry Pendleton — joined by fellow former Atlanta Brave Dale Murphy.
"I always look forward to hearing from you," noted Dave Matthews. "You are most definitely the rock and roll president.")
And finally, walking out of the Fox with a new Braves hat everyone was given, surely believing that this was equal parts concert, milestone birthday party and joyously stealthy Sunday school lesson on what and who to aspire to, no matter how many candles you get to blow out.
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