
Photograph courtesy of the Carter Center
Jimmy Carter’s love of music is one of his most notable traits—from floating his presidential run over scotch with Gregg Allman to being close with Bob Dylan, he’s more than earned his moniker of the “Rock & Roll President.” So, when it came time to celebrate the former President’s 100th birthday, a tribute concert seemed only fitting.
“Music has been an integral part of his life,” says Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander. “The bands that played on the campaign trail with him were indicative of the way he saw music as a cultural bond for citizens that people could always get around. So what we have planned for [the concert] is just that.”

Photograph courtesy of the Carter Center
On September 17, two weeks before the former president’s 100th birthday, the Carter Center will host Jimmy Carter 100: A Celebration in Song, featuring rock, jazz, hip-hop, and gospel musicians from around the country, including many Atlanta natives. Artists including D-Nice, Maren Morris, Drive-By Truckers, Grouplove, Eric Church, the War and Treaty, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus are set to give performances dedicated to Carter’s legacy in Georgia. Many of the performers have personal stories related to Carter, including Chuck Leavell, a former keyboardist for the Allman Brothers and current keyboardist and music director for the Rolling Stones. The Allman Brothers, apart from being close friends with the President, played a key role in campaign fundraising during a 1975 benefit concert they held in Providence.

Photograph courtesy of the Carter Center
“Knowing what he meant for racial justice and equality, these are things that really move these artists, many of whom were born 25-30 years ago, so it’s not like they saw him as president of the United States,” Alexander says. “They saw him as what he’s been for the last 40 years at the Carter Center: a humanitarian, a peace builder, a human rights activist.”
The concert will take place at the Fox Theatre, where President Carter held a benefit concert with the Marshall Tucker Band, also in 1975. Several celebrities including former Brave Dale Murphy and Killer Mike will be part of the show, as well as other surprise guests. “He entertained comedians, stars, public officials, presidents of countries, world leaders and a lot of them wanted to say or do something,” Alexander says.
For those who can’t attend in person, the Center is also creating a digital mosaic similar to one they put together for his 99th birthday. Fans of Jimmy Carter can submit photos, videos, and other multimedia that his grandson, Jason Carter, will show to him. (The former president has been in home hospice care since last year.) Last year’s mosaic received almost 20,000 notes from people in over 150 countries.
In addition to his legacy as a Georgia governor and senator, as well as a Plains native and Georgia Tech alum, President Carter did much to leave an indelible mark on the state. He made strides for the state’s civil rights movement, helped preserve its wildlife through the Georgia Conservancy, and founded the Carter Center with First Lady Rosalynn Carter in 1982. The Center focuses on conflict resolution, advocacy, and disease prevention—especially the eradication of guinea worm disease. “President Carter said that he wanted the last Guinea worm to die before he did, and we’re down to literally one human case in the world right now,” Alexander says.
Tickets to September’s concert are $100 in honor of Carter’s birthday and available here. Proceeds will go towards helping the Carter Center complete their mission.