Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks Perform ‘Imagine’ At Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s Funeral
The country couple honored their late friend with an acoustic performance.
Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks; Photo Courtesy YouTube
Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks honored their late friend, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, with a moving performance at her funeral on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
Rosalynn Carter passed away on November 19 at her home in Plains, Georgia, according to the Associated Press. She was 96 years old. This week, friends, family, and more gathered in and around Atlanta, Georgia to honor the former First Lady. Tributes began on Monday (Nov. 27) with a motorcade that began at the Phoebe Sumter Medical Center.
Who Performed At Rosalynn Carter’s Funeral?
On Tuesday, Brooks and Yearwood were among an invitation-only guest list at Glenn Memorial Church at Emory University in Atlanta to honor Rosalynn Carter’s legacy with a performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Dressed in all-black ensembles, the country couple stunned the invitation-only audience with an acoustic rendition of the song. Yearwood took the lead on vocals, while Brooks joined her on acoustic guitar.
“Imagine” by John Lennon
“Imagine” was the most successful song of John Lennon’s solo career, according to Biography.com. The song has been covered by a variety of artists since its release in 1971, including Lady Gaga, Neil Young, and Stevie Wonder. The lyrics of “Imagine” remain quite controversial as many have deemed the song “anti-religious” and “unpatriotic,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Of the song, Former President Jimmy Carter once said, “…in many countries around the world — my wife and I have visited about 125 countries — you hear John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ used almost equally with national anthems.”
Brooks and Yearwood became close with the Carter family through their work with Habitat for Humanity, which began in 2007. They previously worked on several projects together and will continue the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter and the late former First Lady Rosalynn Carter through their work with the organization.
Did President Carter Attend His Wife’s Funeral?
Jimmy Carter, 99, was in attendance to honor his late wife. According to The New York Times, the former President left hospice care to pay his respects to his longtime love. The couple was married for over 77 years. They were the longest-married presidential couple in American history.
“Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” President Carter said in a statement, according to the official Rosalynn Carter tribute website. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
Rosalynn Carter is survived by her four children, Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy, as well as 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. One of her grandsons passed away in 2015.
“Besides being a loving mother and extraordinary First Lady, my mother was a great humanitarian in her own right,” Chip Carter said in a statement. “Her life of service and compassion was an example for all Americans. She will be sorely missed not only by our family but by the many people who have better mental health care and access to resources for caregiving today.”
Is Melania Trump at Rosalyn Carter’s Funeral?
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Former President Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of the State, Hillary Clinton, were also present at Tuesday’s service. Also paying their respects to Rosalynn Carter were former First Ladies Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush.
In lieu of flowers, the Carter family requests that the public consider a contribution to the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program or the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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