Former president Jimmy Carter died Dec. 29, 2024, leaving behind a century-long legacy of advancing global human rights through nonviolent means. During Carter’s tenure in the White House, his close relationships with musicians like Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan earned him the moniker “Rock and Roll President.” Superstar country couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood paid their respects to Carter with a moving performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Performed the Same Song at Rosalynn Carter’s Funeral
Political leaders converged on the nation’s capital Thursday (Jan. 9) to give President Jimmy Carter the ultimate send-off. President Joe Biden was among many politicians, past and present, to deliver a eulogy at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
In a particularly touching moment, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood took the stage to perform “Imagine,” John Lennon’s 1971 ode to world peace. Brooks appeared to fight back tears as he prepared to sing the opening notes. The husband-and-wife team harmonized beautifully on the timeless refrain: Imagine all the people / Livin’ life in peace / You may say I’m a dreamer / But I’m not the only one / I hope someday you’ll join us / And the world will be as one.
Just over a year ago, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performed the same song in honor of the 39th president’s beloved wife, Rosalynn Carter, during her November 2023 funeral service at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
A select few social media users questioned the song choice given Jimmy Carter’s outspoken Christian faith. But for most, “Imagine” did seem to dovetail nicely with President Biden’s final message about his friend of nearly 50 years.
“Today, many think he was from a bygone era,” said the president, 82. “But in reality, he saw well into the future.”
Musicians Pay Tribute to Jimmy Carter’s Life
According to the Savannah Morning News, Jimmy Carter specifically requested an “Imagine” duet from Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood at his funeral. The couple befriended the former president and his wife, Rosalynn, by joining them on Habitat for Humanity builds.
The “Unanswered Prayers” singer previously took to social media to pay tribute to Carter the day after his death. “President Carter, the legacy you and Rosalynn have left us is as beautiful as the life you lived,” Brooks wrote on Dec. 30. “Thank you for your lifetime of service to our country and the world. You inspired us not just by what you said, but by what you built. We love you.”
