Patti Smith turned 78 on Monday, December 30, and on the eve of her birthday, she posted post a new video update on her Substack page. As part of her message, the lauded singer, songwriter, and poet took time to pay tribute to President Jimmy Carter, who died at age 100 on December 29.
Videos by American Songwriter
“The year’s coming to a close, and today (December 29) we said farewell to President Jimmy Carter,” Smith said. “And, at first, I was quite sad. “And then I thought, ‘You know, he lived his whole life a good, decent man, and really tried to help his fellow man, always. And he had a loving wife, and he lived to be 100. He wanted to vote in the last election, which he did.’”
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She continued, “And I thought, ‘No, Rosalynn’s waiting for him somewhere.’ She’s probably saying, ‘Jimmy, what took you so long?’ And so, I’m happy to imagine that he’s reuniting with Rosalynn Carter. So, farewell.”
Smith then reflected on Carter’s presidency, and what she felt was the positive changes he attempted to accomplish during his one term in office, as well as the struggles he faced.
“He was our great environmental president,” Patti maintained. “But, of course, the people, stiff-necked as they are, did not like the sacrifices that he laid out and his pleas for people to be less materialistic, use less oil, [be] less dependent on material things, and plastics … You know, he had a beautiful vision of what our country could be in 1977. God bless him.”
Smith Also Discussed Progress on Her Upcoming Book
Smith also shared that she has been making progress on her latest book, which she revealed in previous posts is a non-fiction project that will be published in 2025.
“I’m actually working. I’m taking a short break,” she reported. “I’m revved up. I’m so close to finishing my book. I mean, it won’t be perfect, but at least it’ll be a draft to give to my copy editors.”
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Patt added, “It’s been pretty rough. I had a few pretty really rough days, thinking, ‘This is impossible. I’m never gonna do it.’ And then I would get clarity. Sometimes I’d call [my longtime guitarist] Lenny [Kaye] up, and we’d talk about certain things, and … I don’t know. I’m just happy.”
Smith’s New Year’s Wish
Smith concluded her video message with a heartfelt wish for the coming year.
“Happy New Year, everyone,” she declared. “It’s been a very, very rough year, but no matter how rough it is for most of us, there are people in our world that would only dream of having it as rough as us. So … just give those who have less a good thought. Give President Carter a good thought as he goes off looking for Rosalynn. And good night.”
About Smith’s Upcoming Tour Plans
Smith’s upcoming tour schedule currently only features a series of 11 European shows next summer with her quartet. The trek runs from a July 1 concert in Mainz, Germany, through a July 25 performance in Cologne, Germany.
About the Patti Smith Tribute Concert at Carnegie Hall in New York
Also in 2025, Smith will be saluted at a March 26 tribute concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The star-studded event, dubbed “People Have the Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith,” is the 20th annual installment of the “Music Of” concert series organized by New York-based entrepreneur Michael Dorf.
Confirmed performers for the show include R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O, Matt Berninger of The National, ex-Sonic Youth bassist/singer Kim Gordon, Courtney Barnett, Ben Harper, Sharon Van Etten, Alison Mosshart of The Kills, Angel Olsen, and the Kronos Quartet.
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Rolling Stones touring drummer Steve Jordan are part of the event’s house band. Longtime Smith bassist and keyboardist Tony Shanahan also is among the musicians who will accompany the evening’s guest singers. More performers will be added to the lineup in the coming weeks.
All net proceeds raised by the concert will benefit music-education programs for underserved youth in and around New York City. The show also will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Smith’s 1975 debut album, Horses.
Tickets for the “People Have the Power” are on sale now at CarnegieHall.org and via various other outlets, including StubHub. VIP packages can be purchased at MusicOf.org.
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