Former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral included a series of tributes to the 39th Commander-in-Chief of the United States. But one of the most touching moments of Thursday morning’s (January 9) event came when country couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performed a cover of John Lennon’s 1971 peace tribute song “Imagine.”
Brooks played the song’s signature melody on acoustic guitar, singing: “Imagine there’s no heaven / It’s easy if you try / There’s no hell below us / There’s just sky above us,” his voice rising above the majestic 188-year-old echoed through the National Stadium in Washington.
The deliberate rhythm of the performance – and the inclusion of a piano accompaniment – seemed to move many of the dignitaries present, including every living former president. Soon-to-be former President Joe Biden bowed his head at one point, while his successor, former President Donald Trump, appeared to briefly close his eyes during the performance.
“You might say I’m a dreamer/But I’m not the only one,” Brooks sings as wife Yearwood joins in, matching his voice, “I hope one day you’ll join us/The world will continue to exist As a. The final line was spoken as the couple looked into each other’s eyes, and Brooks leaned in to give Yearwood a kiss on the cheek.
The song was one of three-time Grammy winner Carter’s favorites, an interesting choice given the late 39th president’s unwavering faith. After leaving the White House in 1981, Carter taught Sunday school almost every weekend in his hometown of Plainfield, Georgia, and often spoke of the importance of religion in his life. Lennon’s song, by contrast, has lyrics like: “Imagine there’s no country / It’s not hard to do / There’s nothing to kill for or die for / And there’s no religion.”
However, the song’s dream of peace, unity and “without greed or hunger” and “brotherhood of man” more closely reflects Carter’s post-White House humanitarian efforts, which included building homes with Habitat for Humanity and He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts to promote human rights around the world.
The performance was the first public appearance by Brooks and Yearwood – who often joins Carter in his Habitat for Humanity work – since an anonymous woman filed sexual assault charges against Brooks in October, accusing him of sexual assault, battery and battery Later; Brooks vehemently denied the claims.
Carter died on December 29 at the age of 100. He was the oldest president in the history of the United States and the first president to live to be 100 years old. In addition to Biden and Trump and their wives, first lady Dr. Jill Biden and Melania Trump, those attending the funeral included former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State. Hillary Clinton, George and Laura Bush, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff; CNN reports , former first lady Michelle Obama was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
Following the service, Carter’s body will be flown back to Georgia for a private family funeral before being buried at his home in Plains next to his late wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter.
Watch a clip from the “Imagine” performance below.
