As the 39th President of the United States is being laid to rest today, I want to highlight a film I saw recently that really opened my eyes about President Jimmy Carter. I was on a family Christmas trip when I heard of his passing at the age of 100. I was just a baby when he was elected president and honestly, I don’t really know much about him apart from all the humanitarian efforts he did post-presidency, so when I saw this film appear on my Delta flight, I just had to watch it.

When I picture Jimmy Carter, rock ’n’ roll doesn’t usually pop into my head, so this documentary is quite enlightening. Carter was a massive music lover and used music to bond with voters. I’m not super into politics, but this movie isn’t really about that. Directed by Mary Wharton, the rockumentary talks about his journey from a peanut farmer in rural Georgia to the presidency and some monumental events during his presidency, i.e. the Camp David Accords of 1978 and the Iran hostage crisis, but the main focus is on how music can connect people across different divides.

“One of the things that held America together has been the music that we share and love,” Carter himself said during one of the interviews for the film. He was already in his mid-90s at the time, but his eyes just lit up when he was talking about music, revealing that warm, toothy grin he’s known for.

In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal that led to President Richard Nixon’s downfall, the then-governor of Georgia was practically a Washington outsider when he ran for president. But on top of his intelligence, strong moral compass, and good-natured personality, his friendships with prominent musicians of his day gave him vital support during the Democratic primaries. The likes of Allman Brothers, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, etc. became his personal friends. 

We got to see the various concerts on the White House lawn, featuring music of all genres from jazz, gospel, country, and bluegrass to of course, rock & roll. First Lady Rosalynn Carter was a fan of music as well, there was archival footage of them enjoying the concerts. One particular image of the two sitting on the grass of the White House lawns smiling and clapping to the music.

It’s fascinating to learn about him from those who knew him best. Most of the talking heads were musicians I’ve listed above, but also Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Bono, and Jimmy Buffett. Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State under the Clinton administration, and Carter’s own personal pastor, Bishop Michael Curry, and his son Chip Carter gave insights about what kind of person he was. Having just seen A Complete Unknown, it was interesting to see Dylan being interviewed here, talking about his relationship with the late president.

Carter’s deep faith as an evangelical Christian Democrat is truly inspiring. He was well-known for teaching Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, and he really lived out his beliefs. He didn’t just talk the talk; he actively fought against racism, stood up for the environment, and was a strong supporter of women’s rights, civil rights, and fundamental human rights.

This was one of my favorite in-flight viewings. I highly recommend this one if you can find this on streaming. It was entertaining and inspiring to see how music can unite us and prove that we have more in common than we think. He truly was a rockin’ president, literally and figuratively 🤘🏽

RIP President Jimmy Carter, may you rest in peace.