Last Carter Mourned

Hundreds of mourners gathered January 29th to remember Janette Carter, the last surviving member of the musical Carter Family.

Fans congregated in a converted barn known as the Carter Family Fold, a museum and performing space the autoharpist created to help preserve her family’s legacy and the folk music of Appalachia.

Carter, 82, died January 24th after suffering from Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses. She was a member in a singing trio that was discovered in 1927. Janette became the last surviving group member after her brother Joe died last March.

Until several years ago, she played concerts every Saturday at the Carter Family Fold. Janette was the aunt of June Carter Cash, who died in 2003.