Former President Jimmy Carter's Favorite Hymns and Other Things You May Not Know About Him

Jimmy Carter is now our oldest living president. The 39^th U.S. president, who is turning 95 this year, was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia. He served in office from 1977-1981. Keep on reading to learn about Jimmy Carter’s favorite hymns and other things you may not know about him!

Jimmy Carter’s Upbringing and Family History

Jimmy Carter’s full name is James Earl Carter, Jr. He was the first U.S. president to be born in a hospital, unlike his predecessors who were all born at home. Being raised on a family farm, he grew up with traditional rural family values and went to a local Baptist church. He has blue eyes and stands at 5 feet, 9 ½ inches tall.

Carter was the oldest of his three younger siblings, Gloria, Ruth, and Billy. Sadly, all of them have passed from pancreatic cancer. When he was a child, Jimmy Carter shot his sister Gloria in the behind with a BB gun after she threw a wrench at him. He was later punished by his father for tormenting his little sister.

On July 7, 1946, Jimmy Carter married Eleanor Rosalynn Smith. Their first date was at the movie theater, and Carter knew that she was “the one” right away. The four children that they have together are John, James Earl III, Jeffrey, and Amy.

RELATED: Former President Jimmy Carter Talks About His Faith And His Life

Favorite Hymns and Music of Jimmy Carter

Jimmy Carter is a big fan of the arts. He regularly attends ballets, operas, and symphonic concerts. Some of his favorite types of music include classical, bluegrass, country, and folk music. Some of his favorite artists are Bob Dylan, Allman Brothers, Paul Simon, and the Marshall Tucker Band.

As for his favorite hymns, Jimmy Carter loves "Amazing Grace," "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," and "The Navy Hymn."

What Jimmy Carter Loves to Eat

Jimmy Carter loves a good, medium-rare sirloin steak. He is also a fan of any kind of fish or poultry. He enjoys eating cornbread and frozen yogurt. As for vegetables, he will eat any that is placed on his plate, except for beans.

For breakfast, Carter usually enjoys some orange juice, coffee, fruit, and cereal. Occasionally, he indulges with pancakes. For lunch, he tends to eat a salad, sandwich, or bowl of soup. He likes to snack on fresh fruit in-between meals.

Hobbies and Favorite Sports of Jimmy Carter

Growing up, Carter played basketball at his high school. He also ran cross-country when he was attending the U.S. Naval Academy. He is also a life-long tennis player since his family had a dirt court on the farm he grew up on. As for a spectator sport, Carter’s favorite one is baseball.

In his free time, he enjoys bowling, fishing, and hunting. And especially loves to hunt wild turkey, quail, and dove. To stay in shape, Carter rides a bicycle, jogs, plays tennis, and dances with Rosalynn.

Literature Enjoyed by Jimmy Carter

Some of the favorite books of Jimmy Carter include "Let Us Now Praise Famous Men" by James Agee and "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy. He currently reads about 3-4 books a week and has taken a speed-reading course to help him read more. For poets, Carter favors Dylan Thomas and Miller Williams.

As for his favorite Bible verse, Jimmy Carter loves Revelation 3:20. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

Influential People in Jimmy Carter’s Life

Jimmy Carter says that his wife, Rosalynn, is the most influential person in his life. He also notes that his father, James Earl Carter, was like a best friend to him and his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, made a big impact on his life. "My mother was compassionate, dynamic, humorous, inquisitive in her attitude about life," Carter says.

Other than his family, Carter recognizes a few more notable people that have had great influences on him. The superintendent of his high school, Julia Coleman, encourage Carter to learn more about music, art, and literature. And those passions ended up filling his life with so much joy. Jimmy Carter also says that Harry Truman was his favorite president and the one that he admires most.

We hope that you enjoyed learning more about Jimmy Carter and some of his favorite things!

h/t: Scholastic

Featured Image Credit: The Carter Center

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