Anita Carter, Country Singer and Youngest of the Carter Sisters, Dies at 66

Anita Carter, the youngest member of the legendary Carter Sisters and a gifted country singer in her own right, passed away on July 29, 1999, at the age of 66. Known for her clear, expressive voice, she performed with her sisters June Carter Cash and Helen Carter in the family group that carried on the legacy of their mother, Maybelle Carter—a foundational figure in American country music.

In addition to her work with the Carter Sisters, Anita pursued a solo career that saw her collaborate with stars like Hank Snow and Waylon Jennings, and she was the first to record “Ring of Fire” before her sister June’s future husband Johnny Cash turned it into a classic.

Carter had long battled rheumatoid arthritis, a debilitating condition that grew progressively worse over the years. The medications used to manage her illness ultimately caused extensive damage to her pancreas, kidneys, and liver, leading to a slow decline in her health.

At the time of her death, Anita had endured the recent loss of her elder sister Helen, who died just a year earlier in 1998. She would be followed in death by her sister June in 2003.

Anita Carter was married three times. Her first husband was fiddler Dale Potter, followed by session guitarist Don Davis, whom she married twice after an initial divorce. Davis was the father of her two children, Lorrie Frances and Jay Davis, who survive her. She was also briefly married to Bob Wootton, longtime guitarist for Johnny Cash.