100-Year-Old Jimmy Carter Makes History with Grammy Nomination

In an extraordinary twist to an already remarkable life, former President Jimmy Carter has made history yet again. On November 8, just over a month after celebrating his 100th birthday on October 1, Carter became the oldest person ever nominated for a Grammy Award. The recognition comes at a pivotal time, mere days after his endorsed candidate, Kamala Harris, suffered a loss to Donald Trump in the most recent presidential election.

Despite receiving hospice care for nearly two years, Carter continues to defy expectations. His resilience has been a marvel to many, having previously overcome a series of severe health challenges, including brain cancer, liver cancer, and brain surgery. “He just keeps on surprising us,” a source close to the Carter family shared.

The Grammy nod is for Last Sundays in Plains, an album featuring Carter’s final Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. For decades, Carter, a devout Christian, taught lessons at the church, drawing hundreds from around the world who would wait overnight for a seat in the pews. His teachings, covering themes like faith, purposeful prayer, and spiritual freedom, struck a chord with many.

The lessons on the album are paired with music from acclaimed artists such as Jon Batiste, Keb’ Mo’, LeAnn Rimes, and Darius Rucker. This collaboration led to a nomination for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording, Carter’s 10th Grammy nomination. “What an honor!” the Carter Foundation celebrated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

LeAnn Rimes praised Carter’s enduring influence. “Jimmy Carter’s legacy of kindness and dedication to humanity will endure, reminding us all of the impact one person’s love can have on the world,” she said in a press release reported by WSB-TV.

Carter’s post-presidential life has been defined by his commitment to service and humanitarian work. In 1984, he and his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, founded The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project, a collaboration with Habitat for Humanity. The project has helped thousands of families move into safe and affordable homes across 14 countries. Even after stepping down from his formal roles, Carter remained a driving force behind these efforts.

Over the years, Carter has also emerged as a Grammy favorite. He has previously won three awards: Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis in 2007, A Full Life: Reflections at 90 in 2016, and Faith: A Journey For All in 2018. Last Sundays in Plains faces steep competition, with fellow nominees including music legend Dolly Parton, 78, for Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, and Barbra Streisand, 82, for My Name Is Barbra. Other contenders are George Clinton’s And Your Ass Will Follow and Guy Oldfield’s All You Need Is Love: The Beatles In Their Own Words.

However, given his age and health condition, Carter is unlikely to attend the Grammy ceremony in Los Angeles on February 2, 2025. “At 100 years old, just being nominated again is a testament to his remarkable life and impact,” said one music industry insider.

For a man who has navigated the worlds of politics, philanthropy, and faith, a Grammy nomination at a century old seems both fitting and surreal—a moment that honors a life that, even now, continues to inspire millions.