Jimmy Carter is 100 today. Here's how to tune into the celebrations

Jimmy Carter, America's 39th president, turns 100 on Oct. 1, 2024. People in Georgia and around the country — and the world — are marking the occasion with events and well-wishes. GPB has a full slate of programming to honor Carter, too. 

James Earl Carter Jr. was born a 100 years ago on a farm just outside of Plains, Ga. And today, as America's oldest living president, he becomes a centenarian.

After graduating top of his class at Plains High School, Carter studied at Georgia Tech and the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946 with distinction after which he was assigned to USS Wyoming (E-AG 17) as an ensign. After seven years' service as a naval officer, Carter returned to Plains and entered state politics in 1962.

He was elected governor of Georgia in 1970 and as president of the United States in 1976. Carter was married for 77 years to his wife, Rosalynn, who as first lady had her own office in the White House and cofounded the Carter Center with her husband in 1982. Together they had four children and traveled to more than 100 countries, waging peace, spreading democracy and fighting disease.

President Carter entered hospice care in February 2023 and Mrs. Carter died that November. Their grandson Jason Carter, chair of the Board of Trustees at the Carter Center, told GPB last week that Jimmy Carter "has been in hospice for 19 months and he hasn't had any real health change. He's been very physically diminished. It's difficult for him to do sort of the daily things in life. And so he's really constrained by that. But he's still emotionally active and he's paying attention to the world and having experiences that that continue to be rewarding."

GPB-TV special programming 

Things that still bring the former president joy? Keeping up with the Atlanta Braves — who clinched a playoff spot after beating the New York Mets in the second game of a double-header yesterday at Truist Park — and listening to music, which he plans to do tonight at home while tuning into GPB-TV to watch his very own tribute concert, Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song, filmed at Atlanta's Fox Theatre on Sept. 17. Watch the full concert on GPB-TV tonight at 7 p.m. or stream it on-demand here.

GPB-TV's Carter programming brings at 2 p.m. 

GPB News Radio LIVE Remote 

Join GPB's All Things Considered host Peter Biello at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta  on Oct. 1, 2024 from 4 to 6 p.m.

GPB and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum are pleased to invite you to a live remote broadcast to celebrate the 100th birthday of Georgia's own Jimmy Carter.  Meet GPB’s All Things Considered host Biello and hear special interviews and stories about Jimmy Carter and the Presidential Library and Museum. Explore the museum and listen to the live broadcast of the most listened-to, afternoon drive-time, news radio program in the country. 

The library is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and admission is $1 — 100 cents to celebrate President Carter's 100 years!