Stars come out in Atlanta to celebrate Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday

Former president Jimmy Carter's 100th birthday is on 1 October. His supporters didn't want to wait that long to throw a party.

A parade of Georgia luminaries on Tuesday lit up the venerable Fox Theater on Peachtree Street. In a city that boasts new, swanky modern glass and steel venues like the Cobb Energy performing arts center or the Eastern befitting the city's rising prominence, organizers chose Atlanta's oldest concert hall to celebrate Carter's centennial.

Jimmy Carter is four years older than the Fox Theater.

"Not everyone gets 100 years," said Jason Carter, the former president's grandson and 2014 nominee for governor of Georgia. "But when someone does and uses that time to good, it's worth celebrating."

The event was almost entirely devoid of maudlin sentiment. Video testimonials by Jon Stewart, Bob Dylan and others, were splashed across a screen, interspersed by images of famous musicians of the period visiting the White House.

Every living president except Trump sent a message of congratulations and well-wishing.

Headliners included five-time Grammy award winner Angélique Kidjo of Benin, BeBe Winans and Carlene Carter - no relation to the former president.