Former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Jan. 9 was meant to honor the revered statesman. However, it became a stage for another spectacle by none other than President-elect Donald Trump‘s wife, Melania Trump, and her attention-grabbing fashion choice for a supposedly formal and solemn event. 4s652o

The funeral brought together a rare gathering of America’s political elite. Joe and Jill Biden, Bill and Hillary Clinton, George and Laura Bush, Donald and Melania Trump, and Barack Obama all shared a pew, creating a photo-op that captured the nation’s attention. Noticeably absent was Michelle Obama, who reportedly had a scheduling conflict, though her presence was sorely missed.

Interestingly, the real buzz wasn’t about who was missing from the memorial service — it was about what Melania wore. The evening before the funeral, Melania was already turning heads. As she and Donald visited Carter’s flag-draped coffin at the Capitol, her facial expressions became a talking point. She sported a grave, somber look as cameras were rolling during their public appearance. Yet, this was only the prelude to what would come at the funeral itself.

For the solemn ceremony, Melania ditched the subdued black coat she had worn earlier and opted for a bold black coat with an oversized white collar featuring a printed design that left social media ablaze.

Another post chimed in, saying what Melania wore was “so not appropriate” for the occasion. Meanwhile, a third commenter went further and wrote: “I normally like her style, but that collar makes her look like a Pilgrim. And the design? Looks like someone doodled on it. Sorry, just my opinion.”

The criticisms, theories, and memes about Melania’s outfit didn’t stop there. The exaggerated lapel design, which appeared asymmetrical and stretched around the back, became the subject of intense scrutiny. To some, it was an abstract design; to others, it seemed like yet another cryptic Melania fashion statement. One particularly imaginative viewer speculated the right side resembled a figure in old-fashioned military dress, possibly paying homage to President Theodore Roosevelt. “Solidarity wi fellow Rough Rider Teddy, Panama Canal builder?” they wrote, linking the outfit to Donald Trump’s previous comments.

Two days prior to the funeral, Trump had taken aim at Carter’s decision to transfer ownership of the Panama Canal back to Panama, calling it a “big mistake” and a “bad part of the Carter legacy” during a press conference. So was Melania’s outfit a subtle nod to her husband’s stance? Some Trump ers clarified that it had nothing to do with it and that the outfit was merely a unique design by the Italian fashion house Valentino. The large white collar was allegedly simply embellished with a print design depicting a sculpture.

Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time Melania’s funeral wardrobe has stirred controversy. In 2023, her choice of a gray tweed coat at Rosalynn Carter’s memorial stood out like a sore thumb among the sea of black worn by other first ladies. While technically appropriate, the look was widely panned as tone-deaf and out of place. Former advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff even accused Trump’s wife of deliberately using the occasion to draw attention to herself.

Whether the bold collar at Jimmy Carter’s funeral was a calculated move or just another puzzling fashion choice, Melania definitely knows how to keep people talking about her. On a day meant to celebrate the life and legacy of a beloved former president, she managed to make headlines without even saying a word.

Former President Jimmy Carter may not be counted among the best presidents, but there are many who his presidency fondly. His death came at a tumultuous time for the U.S. as Donald Trump prepares to take power for his second term as president.

Across the political divide people have been reflecting on Carter’s legacy, his time as president, and the person he was, with an almost universally positive outpouring — with the exception of certain pundits like CNN’s Scott Jennings — including poorly received condolences from Donald Trump. Carter’s death comes not long after his centenary birthday, as the ex-president reached the ripe old age of 100 despite being treated in hospice care for terminal cancer. The birthday saw Carter celebrated by politicians and figures like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for his work pre and post-presidency.

It’s fair to say that whatever deficiencies there were in Carter’s presidency, he’s more than made up for it in the minds of many due to the work he did after leaving. During his state funeral, President Biden gave a touching eulogy praising Carter’s strength of character, while also reiterating the need to “stand against hate.” While the eulogy was about Carter and his legacy, Biden’s words also contain oblique references to Trump’s lack of character and the platform of hate upon which he stands.

Despite the jabs being clever enough to fly under the radar, Trump, who was also in attendance, seemed blissfully unaware of any shade being thrown his way. However, someone else in the audience absolutely couldn’t help but respond with a side eye and a knowing smile. Posting about the event on the social media platform an X shared a clip of Hillary Clinton reacting to Biden’s words that just perfectly captures the moment.

While the clip is a funny capture of Hillary Clinton’s response in the moment, there were many MAGA ers who took to the comments to cry foul, calling the event “cringe” or stating that Donald Trump was “surrounded by evil.”

Despite Trump ers flocking to defend their leader from the implications of his own behavior, there were others who resonated with the content of Biden’s eulogy and saw the differences between Carter and Trump as being like night and day.

Even though many Trump ers feel attacked, the eulogy contains words that celebrate Carter rather than anything that specifically denigrates Trump. That Trump comes away from the eulogy looking a poor contrast is through no fault of Biden: it is hard not to compare the integrity and strength of character possessed by Jimmy Carter with the utter absence of anything resembling either that the world suffers — daily, and vocally across multiple platforms — from Trump, who is one of the most highly publicized figures in the world. It’s not hard to imagine why Hillary Clinton smiled at the implication, or why Trump is the first figure that springs to mind as a comparison.

Prince William’s decision to skip Jimmy Carter’s funeral may have left some Americans feeling snubbed, but what if he had a very good reason?

While Prince Edward, a less prominent royal who ranks 14th in line to the throne, represented the British monarchy in Washington, D.C., many were left wondering why the future king of England was absent from this significant event. After all, Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, had warm relations with the British royal family, dating back to his 1977 state visit to Buckingham Palace. Surely, it would have been a prime opportunity for William to cement his growing reputation as a global statesman.

According to Ingrid Seward, a royal expert and author of My Mother and I, the decision was strategic. “Of course, Americans would have preferred William,” she told Newsweek. “But on the other hand, I think Edward was 13 when Jimmy Carter was president. It’s possible that Edward did meet him.”

Meanwhile, Edward’s trip to Washington saw him paying his respects at the Capitol building. It’s unclear whether Edward ever met the former president, but it’s not uncommon for royal children to meet world leaders. In 2016, for example, a young Prince George famously greeted then-President Barack Obama in his dressing gown during a state visit.

Edward’s appearance at Carter’s funeral may have raised some eyebrows, but Seward pointed out that William’s absence wasn’t a reflection of his lack of interest. Instead, it was a matter of timing and not a decision forced by his wife, Kate Middleton, who turned 43 the same day. Not that everyone is convinced that Willy didn’t choose his wife over respecting a former U.S. president.

Prince William marked his wife’s birthday by paying a loving tribute to her “strength” in a post on X. Seward dismissed the idea that the Duchess of Cambridge’s birthday celebrations might have kept the Duke of Cambridge from attending the funeral, saying, “Kate wouldn’t have let her birthday encroach on it. If William was meant to be going, she would have said, ‘You’ve got to go.’”

In recent years, the prince has made significant strides in presenting himself as a global figure. He relished the spotlight during his high-profile visit to Boston for the Earthshot Prize and seized a major diplomatic moment last December when he met with President-elect Donald Trump at the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral.

So, why miss what Seward herself called “a bigger global stage than Jimmy Carter’s funeral today, especially with everything that’s happening in California”? Some believe it was simply a case of delegation within the royal family’s ranks. Prince Edward, often overshadowed by his elder siblings, was chosen to represent the family this time around, possibly as a way to share the load of royal duties.

“It would have been a good opportunity for William to go,” Seward itted. “He probably has missed a trick.” Yet, she emphasized that such decisions are never made lightly. For a family as steeped in protocol as the Windsors, these choices are typically weighed carefully to ensure that the right person attends the right event.

Still, one can’t help but wonder if the outcome could have been better. Prince William’s star power far outshines that of his uncle Prince Edward — especially in the U.S., where the Prince of Wales enjoys near-celebrity status. His attendance at Carter’s funeral might have served as a symbolic reminder of the enduring bond between Britain and America, while further elevating his profile as a future king on the world stage.

Carter’s ties to the British monarchy date back to his presidency, when he attended a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. Though he made headlines at the time for allegedly kissing the Queen Mother on the lips — a breach of royal protocol that sparked headlines — the former president was warmly regarded by the royal family.

While many Americans may have hoped for Prince William to headline the royal contingent, the decision to send Prince Edward was a reminder that the royal family does not necessarily send a representative based on star power. Perhaps, the royal protocol does believe in giving equal chances and exposure to senior royals.

Jimmy Carter the 39th president of the U.S., was the proud patriarch of a large family, having four children (Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy) and several grandchildren, one of whom was Jeremy Carter, the son of Jeff and his wife Annette.

In an interview on The Lead with Jake Tapper in July 2015, the former president talked about his large family, sharing how much he and his wife Rosalynn delight in spending time with their loved ones. “We have a big family now. We have 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 38 of us in all. So, we try to hold our family together and just enjoy the family life.” 

In Dec. 2015, Carter shared the joyful news that he was cancer-free after his battle with brain cancer, a relief that brought hope and happiness to his family. The celebration, however, was short-lived, as about two weeks later on Dec. 20, he delivered the heartbreaking news that his grandson Jeremy had tragically ed away at the age of 28. He broke the news at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where he regularly taught Sunday School. Attendees reported that Jimmy arrived unusually late to the class, having received the tragic news of Jeremy’s ing just hours earlier.

On the day before his death, Jeremy was not feeling well and took a nap. His mother Annette then found him unresponsive, and he was immediately brought to the hospital, where he later died.

Jeremy’s brother penned a heartbreaking post about his death 464x53

While news reports offered no further details about Jeremy’s untimely death, his brother Josh took to his blog to share his grief, expressing that his “thoughts are disted” and he felt “raw” from the loss of his brother. According to him, he received a call from his brother at 10:10 pm on Dec. 19, telling him that they were at the hospital with Jeremy. Josh and his other brother, Jamie, rushed to the hospital to be with the family, and it was there that he learned that his brother had a heart attack at home and their mother performed R until paramedics arrived.

By the time Josh arrived at the hospital’s emergency room, his brother’s organs had started shutting down, but doctors were rapidly working to save his life. “Jeremy had IV’s everywhere; leg, groin, arm, thumb. He had saline, epinephrine, blood, potassium, vial after vial after bag after bag after syringe,” Josh wrote. At about 1:50 am on Dec. 20, Jeremy’s heart stopped beating. R was istered for 10 minutes, and doctors told the family that they could continue, but there was most likely to be severe brain damage by that point. Jeremy’s family decided that it was best to stop, and he was declared dead at 2:00 am. 

In his post, Josh also mentioned that Jeremy had undergone “a battery of tests” just months before he died due to a loss of appetite and leg pain. He was prescribed Vitamin A and Vitamin D, but his results didn’t show anything alarming. It isn’t clear whether his ing was the result of an underlying illness. “I am going to miss you buddy. I love you Jeremy,” Josh ended the post.

During his Sunday School class on the day of Jeremy’s death, Jimmy described his grandson as a “very special child” who turned into a “wonderful young man” that everybody in the family loved.

Former President Jimmy Carter’s Dec. 29 death has thrust his family back into the spotlight including his only daughter Amy Carter.

Carter served a single term as the 39th Commander-in-Chief. Amy was just nine years old when her dad was elected in 1977, delighting the American people who were thrilled to have a kid in the White House again. Amy is the youngest and only daughter of Carter and wife Rosalynn Carter.

Of her brothers, John William ‘Jack’ Carter, James Earl ‘Chip’ Carter III, and Donnel Jeffrey ‘Jeff’ Carter, only Chip lived with the family at the White House. However, at 28 years old, he was a young adult and didn’t have the youthful charisma that younger presidential children often bring.

It wasn’t easy for a reserved kid to be in the spotlight but Amy roller skated in the driveway, ate dinner with John Travolta, and snuggled her Siamese cat Misty Malarky Ying Yang so it wasn’t all bad. After her father’s tenure in office, she moved back home with her parents to Plains, Georgia. There she graduated from Woodward Academy before attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Although Amy is introverted she is also ionate about human rights. She was asked to leave Brown after focusing more on political activism than her studies. Her first act of civil disobedience came in 1985 when she protested apartheid at the South African Embassy in Washington. She repeated the offense while at Brown. She also was arrested for speaking out against the C.I.A.’s involvement in Nicaragua in Massachusetts.

Her father did not seem to mind his daughter’s run-ins with the law. “Amy is a very shy girl, contrary to the image you see projected in the news media,” he explained, adding that he agreed with her political positions. “She believes very strongly in what she’s doing.”

Amy eventually earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Memphis College of Art. She went on to study art history at Tulane University graduating in 1996. That same year, Amy married James Gregory Wentzel, a computer consultant. The couple met working at a bookstore in Atlanta. Although they divorced in 2005 they remained dedicated co-parents of their son, Hugo James Wentzel. He appeared on season 2 of the competition reality series, Claim to Fame.

Two years after her divorce, Amy married John Joseph “Jay” Kelly. The couple share a daughter, Errol Carter Kelly.

After her youthful activism, Amy stayed mostly out of the limelight. The exception to this came in 1995 when she partnered with her father on a children’s book. Amy illustrated The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer which was based on a story her dad told her as a kid. According to the New York Times, she would go on to teach art at the school both her kids attended.

When Rosalynn died in 2023, Amy stepped up for the family and gave the eulogy. “My mom spent most of her life in love with my dad,” she explained. “Their partnership and love story was a defining feature of her life. Because he isn’t able to speak to you today, I’m going to share some of his words about loving and missing her.”   

One can infer that after her father’s legacy is celebrated, Amy, now 57, will slip back out of the public eye. The former first daughter deserves to mourn in peace but will continue her family’s legacy as a member of the board of counselors for The Carter Center. Don’t mistake her for former Georgia House Rep. Amy Carter while she is out of the spotlight.

Politicians, peers, and loved ones of Jimmy Carter gathered together on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, for the former president’s funeral. But one notable absence was felt during the unfortunate ceremony — and that would be Michelle Obama.

The 39th president of the U.S. sadly ed away a little over a week earlier, on the 29th of December, 2024, leaving a large hole in many of our hearts. No matter personal political preference, Carter was seen by many as a decent, humble man with an undeniable love for the country, while also etching his name in history as the longest-living president. As such, it makes perfect sense why all five living presidents — both current and former — attended the funeral service in Washington, D.C. today to pay their respects to one of the greatest men this nation has ever known.

Attendees at the funeral included president-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania; former president George W. Bush and his wife, Laura; President Joe Biden and his wife Jill; Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff; former president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary; former vice president Mike Pence and his wife Karen; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; and former president Barack Obama.

During the funeral, cameras captured an eye-catching moment between Obama and President-elect Trump, with both politicians seen chuckling together in a moment that has now gone viral on X and attracted mass attention. Despite the laughter shared between the two, netizens quickly noticed that Michelle was not seated beside her husband which, if you know anything about the beloved romance between the Obamas, is not a common occurrence. So, where exactly is Michelle and why wasn’t she in attendance for the funeral?

Michelle Obama’s absence, explained 1s5217

As per CNN journalist Jeff Zeleny, Michelle experienced “scheduling conflicts” which prevented her from attending Carter’s funeral in person. “I’m told by her advisors that she has scheduling conflicts,” Zeleny stated before adding, “She’s still in Hawaii.”

Despite her absence, her husband released a public statement back on the 29th of December that stated their respective condolences and expressed their “thoughts and prayers” to the entire Carter family. Additionally, a spokesperson for Michelle released an official statement on the state funeral, expressing that “Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President.”

CNN subsequently reported that the scheduling conflicts were due to an “extended vacation” in Hawaii, which hardly comes as a surprise, seeing as Michelle herself has stated that the Obamas visit Barack’s family in Hawaii over the holiday season every year. And with Carter ing just two days shy of New Year’s Eve, it’s clear that Michelle and Barack were on their holiday vacation when they received the news. 

So while it’s unfortunate Michelle wasn’t able to make an appearance and pay her final respects to Jimmy Carter at his funeral, the respect and iration shared between the pair is obvious, and thankfully, the public is aware that Michelle is safe and sound in Hawaii.

Celebrated former president Jimmy Carter ed away at the tail-end of 2024, and the response that followed was almost universally positive.

Almost.

There are bound to be a few detractors in any political figure’s camp, and that’s apparently true of even Carter. Considered among the greatest men to have ever attained the office of the presidency, Carter’s legacy is largely positive. He’s not considered among the best U.S. presidents — in fact, historians consider him among the worst — but his post-presidential career was more than enough to elevate Carter in the minds of many.

But not CNN contributor Scott Jennings, who makes a career out of offering insufferable lip service to the Republican party, typically via notoriously left-leaning new sources. CNN is a favorite, and it was on the network that he openly trashed Carter as “a terrible president” and, despite the praise that’s followed Carter for decades, “an even worse ex-president.”

“His meddling in U.S. foreign policy” is apparently top of the list for Jennings, along with “his saddling up to dictators around the world,” and “his vehement views, anti-Israel views, and more than dabbling in anti-Semitism over the years.”

There are several more factors listed by Jennings, who cites Carter’s supposedly “huge ego” as a major issue in the years following his presidency. As is quickly reinforced by a fellow CNN commentator, Carter’s “meddlesome” nature is well-documented, particularly as it related to his successors in the White House, but most people don’t think “it outweighs the contribution he made as a global citizen.“

Truly, that is the legacy so many Americans recall when Carter’s name is referenced. Not his time as a president, not his time in the post-presidency continuing to insert himself into politics, but as a regular citizen, working to make the world a better place. It is broadly believed that Carter was a much better man than he was a president, and his acts in the decades that followed his underline why.

Diplomacy and humanitarian efforts defined the years after Carter left office, as he worked tirelessly — and without further enriching himself — to stabilize relationships between the United States and a number of foreign powers. No man is perfect, of course, and Carter had many flaws, but through it all its generally seen as hugely tactless to heap criticism on a recently-deceased public figure, particularly one as well-liked as Carter.

That’s not likely to slow Jennings’ roll much, given that he’s gleefully promoting his own commentary, despite rampant pushback. Even his right-leaning fans are reacting in distaste to the 47-year-old’s commentary, pointing out that Carter’s reputation disagrees with his takeaways. He was an ineffective president, overall, but he did many great things with the time he had on this Earth, and he didn’t need an Oval Office to get it done.

Its by no means a terrible thing to criticize a former president — all of them have failed in countless ways, even the well-meaning ones — but to drag a man’s name through the mud, despite the clear humility and political courage he displayed through the years, is just a classless move.

The death of former US president Jimmy Carter came as a shock to many, despite his age. The peanut farmer president was 100 years old when he ed away on December 29th and in the days since, tributes have come pouring in from major political figures including Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, and even the Pope.

However, President-elect Donald Trump’s tribute has ruffled a few feathers. The 78-year-old took to his Twitter knock-off Truth Social to pay tribute to the 39th president with a brief statement. Trump is well known for his juvenile rants and general lack of respect in the word salads he posts online, especially when it comes to people with opposing views. However, this time he shows some restraint, acknowledging that Carter and he disagreed “philosophically and politically,” but that Jimmy “truly loved and respected our Country.”

Trump goes on to call Carter a “truly good man,” saying he was “very consequential, far more than most presidents.” It’s a rare moment in which Trump appears to have read the room and not tried to stir division or cause controversy. However, people weren’t buying his supposed touching tribute, with people calling out the soon-to-be president for his disingenuousness. 

Donald Trump’s tribute didn’t go over very well 44x1l

Carter being a Democrat would always put him at loggerheads with Trump. The two had spoken in the past, with Carter claiming a Trump re-election would be a disaster. Meanwhile, Donald called him a “nice man” but a “terrible president.” He took a few more shots at the former president, calling him the “forgotten president,” but Carter has achieved so much in his life, it’s difficult to see how anyone could say that.

So you can see why some people would now be a little bit skeptical over Trump’s apparent warm condolences. In fact, there’s justified skepticism as to whether Donald even wrote the statement himself, many seem fairly certain that he did not.

Others believed that Trump should not be allowed to attend the funeral.

To many, Jimmy Carter was the polar opposite of Donald Trump, he came from humble roots, being known as the peanut farmer president due to his family-owned peanut farm. He grew up in a home without electricity or indoor plumbing, yet went on to serve in the Navy before becoming a state senator and then a governor for Georgia. Then, of course, he served for four years as the president of the United States. Oh, and he also received a Nobel Peace Prize. Compare that to Donald Trump who got his start from his rich father who gave him that “small loan” of a million dollars.

In the eyes of many, Jimmy Carter was, and always will be a much more relatable and likable president than Donald Trump. Donald frequently insulted his predecessor back during his first term, while Carter showed respect and courtesy, something which is sorely missing in the world’s leaders today.

Jimmy Carter, the American president who went from peanut farmer to leader of the free world, has ed away at the age of 100.

Carter, who served as president from Jan. 20, 1977 to Jan. 20, 1981, had been living under hospice care since 2022, which is typically end-of-life care for those with a life expectancy of six months or less, but went on to enjoy a relatively good standard of life for two more years.

In 2015 Carter announced he was suffering from skin cancer that had spread to his brain and liver, but defied that diagnosis by embracing experimental immunotherapy treatments and celebrated his centenary in 2024. Carter’s exact cause of death has not been confirmed, though given his advanced age it will likely simply be “natural causes”.

He was the longest-lived president in United States history and was known just as much for his charity as he was for his difficult time in office.

“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” Carter’s son Chip said in a statement announcing his father’s death. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

Bill and Hillary Clinton released a statement thanking the former president for his “long, good life,” which was “guided by his faith.” Clinton listed several of Carter’s accomplishments, including protecting “natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,” making “energy conservation a national priority,” returning the Panama Canal, securing peace “between Egypt and Israel at Camp David” and “advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy.”

Carter’s time in office was marked by controversy, and he left the presidency as one of the most unpopular of all time. He was defeated in his bid for reelection by Ronald Reagan in 1980. The years have softened that view though, and he’s now viewed more kindly by contemporary historians.

Author Kai Bird, who wrote a book about Carter’s presidency called “The Outlier,” said that most people will that Carter “had an irable post-presidential life filled with good works, but they quickly add that his presidency was a failure,” Bird said. “Historians in recent years would disagree. His presidency was in fact quite consequential.”

Presidents can fall in and out of the favor of history over the decades. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson were for a long time revered as archetypal presidents, but revelations about slave ownership have tarnished those images. A funeral tends to soften the rougher edges of memory.

Carter is survived by the aforementioned Chip and his other children Jack, Jeff, and Amy. He has 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Carter’s funeral will be the first presidential funeral since George H.W. Bush in 2018 and is expected to be attended by all living presidents.

The list of nominees for the 2025 Grammy Awards was released on Nov. 8, and among those included was former President Jimmy Carter. Being recognized for one’s hard work is always an honor, and this marks the 10th nomination for the centenarian.

Carter was nominated in the Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording category for his spoken-work album Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration. He’s going up against Barbra Streisand (My Name is Barbra), Dolly Parton (Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones), George Clinton (…And Your A** Will Follow: Words + Music), and Guy Oldfield (All You Need is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words).

Carter’s latest spoken-word album was released a few months ahead of his 100th birthday, and it includes recordings of the Sunday School lessons he delivered at the Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. The album also features music from LeAnn Rimes, Jon Batiste, Darius Rucker, Nicole Zuraitis, and Keb’ Mo’. Producer Kabir Sehgal described it as “a final culmination of President Carter’s Sunday school lessons for years, for decades.”

On Oct. 1, 2024, Carter celebrated his 100th birthday in Plains surrounded by his family and closest friends. The group indulged in cupcakes outdoors as World War II planes flew across the sky to honor the birthday celebrant. Carter was placed in hospice care in Feb. 2023, and at that time, some family were concerned that he didn’t have long to live. In any case, Carter has stayed resilient after beating brain cancer and having a broken hip. When his son, Chip, asked whether he was trying to live to be 100, he answered, “No, I’m trying to live to vote for Kamala Harris.”

Carter fulfilled his wish and voted early. As his grandson Jason said, “he sat down and told everybody what he wanted to do, and was excited about it.” A family member then submitted his ballot at an absentee dropbox.

Jimmy Carter is breaking records 6g696d

Living to be 100 years old is something to celebrate, and as one of Carter’s grandsons, Josh, said, “It’s a gift I didn’t know we were going to get.” There’s little news about his health, and his last public appearance was at the funeral of his wife Rosalynn who died in Nov. 2023, at 96 years old, just a few months after they celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary. At that time, Carter’s grandson, Jason, told the New York Times that his grandfather was “coming to the end, and he’s very, very physically diminished.”

Now, he is the longest-living U.S. president in history and the first to reach the triple digits. He’s also the oldest Grammy nominee ever with his recent nomination, and if he wins, he’ll be holding the title of the oldest Grammy winner. Blues musician Pinetop Perkins — who won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album in 2011 at 97 years old — currently holds the record.

Carter has won three Grammys, all for the Best Spoken Word Album category: Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis (2006), A Full Life: Reflections at 90 (2015), and Faith — A Journey for All (2018). To date, Carter is the oldest-living Grammy winner. The 67th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 2, 2025. 

Happy Libra season, everyone. The best month of the year is upon us and, as always, it was ushered in by what may well be the most star-studded birthday of the Gregorian Calendar, led by none other than Captain Marvel herself.

The magic you start feeling in the air on Oct. 1 isn’t just in your head. It seems the date really does hold some kind of superpower because you wouldn’t believe the amount of uber-talented people who were born on it, beginning with the stunning Brie Larson, who turned 35, and the Julie Andrews who turned 89.

Also on Oct. 1st, 2024, former president Jimmy Carter turned 100th. Born in 1924, he became the first U.S. President to live a full century. He’s been in hospice care for the last 19th months in the same one-story home he built with the former first lady in the early 1960s in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. The 100-year-old ed his friends and family on his birthday to witness a military flyover with four fighter jets.

While that triad is impressive as is, the list is far from ending there. How about Emerald Fennell, the Oscar-winning director of Promising Young Woman and Saltburn? English actors Rupert Friend (Asteroid City, Anatomy of a Scandal) and Richard Harris (two-time Oscar-nominated actor most famous for playing Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films)? Or maybe Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis and Lovecraft Country‘s Jurnee Smollett?

Not content? Sarah Drew of Grey’s Anatomy fame, Stranger Things alum Priah Ferguson, Mission Impossible bad guy Esai Morales, Shadowhunters heartthrob Matthew Daddario, Randy Quaid’s older brother Randy, and Walter Matthau of the Lemmon/Matthau comedy duo were all Oct. 1 babies as well. And let’s not forget queen Michaela Coel who was born in London in 1987 and has thankfully decided to bless us with her artistry for the last ten years.

Who we can forget is former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Theresa May. Other controversial figures born Oct. 1 include English soccer rising star Mason Greenwood, who was accused of abusing his girlfriend, and American actor Stephen Collins who confessed to sexually assaulting three minors in 2014.

Still, the balance is undoubtedly positive. Tell me another birthday that has originated four Oscars, seven Emmys, six BAFTAs, ten Golden Globes, four Grammys, one presidency of the United States, and one prime ministry of the United Kingdom. I’m willing to bet that you can’t.

All these famous birthdays on the first day of October are just further evidence that this really the greatest month of the year. Fall is in its full glory with all its warm colors, chilly winds, and warm pumpkin beverages, and Halloween is just around the corner. It’s the perfect balance of busy and mellow. I know my fellow Libras will agree.

Former president and beloved American pillar Jimmy Carter turned 100 years old on Oct. 1, 2024, making history as the first president to ever live a full century on this Earth.

Carter served as the nation’s 39th president between 1977 and 1981, remaining in office for only a single term before handing the reins to Ronald Reagan in the early ’80s. His time in office marks an ethical high point in American politics, but it’s what Carter did with the time following his term that really established him as among the nation’s greatest statesmen. His humanitarian work is nearly unmatched, his legacy is one of comion, kindness, and human caring, and the mark he will leave on this world is untarnished by time.

For more than 40 years now, Carter has established himself as a good man — not just a good president. He continued to serve the nation long after he left office, and the government continued to serve him in its own way as well. Carter, as a former president, is entitled to certain benefits (and detriments) thanks to his former position, but is a continued Secret Service presence among them?

How long do presidents have Secret Service? 13237

When an American citizen goes from regular voter to being on the ballot, they typically earn a certain level of protection provided by the government. Carter, for his part, first gained Secret Service protection while he was a presidential candidate in the 120 days leading up to the 1976 election. Once he earned his position as Commander in Chief, those same agents (and a few fresh ones) continued to protect him across his term as president — but it didn’t end there.

Presidents don’t stop being targets just because they’re no longer in office. Unfortunately, the danger associated with such a prominent position continues across the course of a person’s life, which means that anyone who ever served in the office of the presidency earns Secret Service protection from the day they’re elected (and even before) until they day they die.

Which means that Carter is officially among the longest-protected American citizens in history. He’s only sured by Lady Bird Johnson, wife of former president Lyndon B. Johnson, who was protected by the Service for nearly 50 years. Carter is pushing that number himself — in January of 2024, the Secret Service celebrated a full 43 years of protecting the former president.

In 2023, as the Service was celebrating its 42nd year at Carter’s side, a number of agents stepped forward to discuss their time in the 39th president’s service, and the unmatched memories that are made traveling with one of the most influential people on the planet. Several of his longtime companions, including former Special Agents in Charge Alex Parker and Bill Bush, discussed the hundreds of countries they visited with Carter, and gushed over the charming memories they share with the beloved and widely ired statesman.

Carter’s Secret Service protection will continue up until his death — which is hopefully a ways off, still. Up until that day comes, the nation will continue to feel gratitude for a man who seized immense power and wielded it gently, with an aim to truly make the world a better place.