Jimmy Carter's Centennial Milestone To Be Commemorated With Star-Studded Concert

Jimmy Carter will turn 100 in two months, and his loved ones are eager to celebrate this huge milestone!

The soon-to-be centenarian is the oldest-living former U.S. president and the longest-lived president in U.S. history. But his reign isn't the only reason he is loved; he also won the hearts of many with his human rights activism.

Friends and family will honor Jimmy Carter's legacy at an upcoming night of music in September — a tribute with prominent stars lined up to celebrate the icon.

Carter will officially clock 100 on October 1, but his centennial milestone is set to be celebrated two weeks earlier, per the Carter Center's announcement. The homage will occur at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on September 17.

The special concert titled "Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song" is sponsored by Delta Air Lines and commemorates the former POTUS' "legacy of service to humanity."

It has a star-studded lineup of prominent performers, including Chuck Leavell, D-Nice, Drive-By Truckers, Eric Church, GROUPLOVE, Maren Morris, The War And Treaty, and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus.

According to PEOPLE, the musical night will be directed by Emmy award-winner Rickey Minor. The guest list includes celebrities like Dale Murphy, Killer Mike, and Sean Penn. Additional artists and presenters will be announced later.

The Carter Center's decision to honor the soon-to-be centenarian with a night of songs isn't random, as the beloved icon has a special relationship with music. His grandson, Jason Carter, shed more light on this, saying:

"Whether it was on his record player, on the campaign trail, or on the White House lawn, music has been – and continues to be – a source of joy, comfort, and inspiration for my grandfather."

Jason, who also serves as chair of the Carter Center Board of Trustees, continued: "I can think of no better way to celebrate him and his 100th birthday than a night of music."

The significance of music in Carter's life continued with Chuck Leavell, former keyboardist for the Allman Brothers and the Rolling Stones, reflecting on its role in his presidential reign.

Leavell noted that music was influential to Carter's successful 1976 presidential campaign, saying: "Back when Jimmy Carter was running for president, the Allman Brothers played concerts for his campaign because we believed in his vision for hope and change for America."

"We could never have imagined what a positive impact he would have on the entire world," Leavell continued, adding, "It's an honor to play at his 100th birthday and celebrate a man whose legacy will surely continue to inspire future generations."

Carter's upcoming centennial birthday does not only celebrate his legacy but also his resilience, as it marks over a year of hospice care. The Blast reported he was dubbed an "outlier" for achieving a 16-month milestone in June.

Carter's achievement needed to be celebrated because many believed his time was near when he entered hospice care in February 2023 after halting aggressive treatment for metastatic melanoma. His continued well-being raised awareness about the benefits of palliative care. 

Angela Novas, senior medical officer of the Hospice Foundation of America, sang Carter's praises in a statement. She claimed that his progress showed the importance of hospice care, saying:

"By outliving his initial prognosis and by receiving hospice care for over a year now, he has done much to dispel the myth that hospice is only for people who are bedbound and actively dying."

Novas wasn't the only medical practitioner impressed with Carter's hospice milestone, and Dr. Joan Teno, an expert in geriatric care, echoed similar sentiments. She praised the former POTUS as an "Outlier" for shattering peoples' expectations.

Teno noted that "only a small percentage of hospice patients survive more than 15 months" and attributed Carter's longevity to "excellent medical care" and his "will to live." She also stressed that hospice prioritizes enhancing the quality of life for those with a limited life expectancy.

Jimmy Carter's 100th birthday will surely generate more attention on hospice care and its benefits.