Posted on 11/02/2023 9:35:23 AM PDT by Red Badger
Singer Karen Carpenter passed away 40 years ago at the age of 32. She was anorexic and it killed her. Now author Lucy O’Brien has revealed additional details in her new book, “Lead Sister: the Story of Karen Carpenter.”
According to an excerpt shared by the Hollywood Reporter, Carpenter and her brother, Richard Carpenter, formed the duo “The Carpenters.” They were hit musicians who were even invited to meet then-President Richard Nixon in 1972.
But O’Brien’s book offers a closer look into Carpenter’s struggle with body image. The text detailed how “Anorexia had become a tyrannical force in her psyche, telling her that food was an enemy to be fought.”
The passage went on, “Thoughts of food and the methods to eliminate it had become obsessive, dominating her day and disrupting her sleep. ‘It’s like being haunted,’ she said.”
After struggling with previous treatment methods, Carpenter hired psychotherapist Steven Levenkron in the summer of 1982. He was a “nurturant-authoritative” and considered a controversial aid at the time.
Levenkron moved in with Carpenter and realized she was using laxatives to purge her body of food and stay thin. She also admitted to abusing a thyroid medication to boost her metabolism.
Levenkron confiscated the medication and worked to help her for months. During one breakthrough session, Carpenter is said to have stated, “I don’t need any care,” adding, “I’m successful like this.”
But her doctor would not be deterred. He pointed out, “But you do need care because you are incompetent … because you can’t keep yourself alive.” This shocked and upset her.
She weighed 77 pounds and experienced health issues that required hospitalization. When she was released, she gained 20 pounds and even celebrated Thanksgiving with her family by eating and celebrating her recovery.
She declared herself cured, but Levenkron warned that recovery would take years. Carpenter wanted to get back to work.
Unfortunately, between Thanksgiving, and that following January, her health began to fail. She ended up hospitalized in February of 1983 where she passed away due to her severe anorexia.
Truth and Accuracy
Certainly in terms of self perception. They look in the mirror and they are skin and bones and they think they are fat.
Mavis Staple was probably better than all of them.
Just my opinion.
No, it's real serious mental stuff, because they usually die. I believe there is a well known mental illness place in Colorado that attempts to treat this.
What a wonderful voice, thankfully we can still enjoy her recordings. R.I.P. Karen.
She’s an amazing talent. I hope that when Leonid decides to retire again she has a great career.
When i was in grade school ol snoze would be on the TV and mom made us kids watch.
Cant stand the sight of Barbara Streisand to this day…
Their show was so frikkin’ stupid. Back then everyone I knew thought it was totally “kiss ass”. I did too although I liked some of her songs because she did have a great voice and perfect delivery. We were into the heavier rock music of the day. Carpenters were practically music for those that liked Jack Jones type stuff.
My Mom may have liked their show though.
She does have an amazing voice (Streisand) if you can look past the political ugliness.
Whitney Houston has got to be on some lists. Boy could she sing. Another voice with a sad ending.
“Anybody know if Richard Carpenter s still around?”
Once upon a time I got a sheet music book of Carpenter songs.
Songs by Bacharach/David, Williams/Nichols and other hit composers were in there plus a bunch composed by Richard.
The ‘Richard’ ones were a waste of paper. I think his talent was as an arranger.
“When the greats “pass on” ... I always wonder what great music we missed”
As one of my favorite authors says, “trees shed their dead branches and grow new ones.”
That guy did some really great arraigning.
Her brother said he noticed the problem as early as 1974.
“No one ever cared if I should live or die“
I think only she could have sung such a self-pitying line without sounding like a whinging crybaby.
“she was my favorite female vocalist.”
Mine, too.
I cried when she died. So tragic.
Good choices!
“Hard to believe that she got into Anorexia without some sort of influence happening in her life.”
A news article criticizing her body pulled the trigger. One article.
Wow. That’s beautiful. The First Violin chick is amazing, too.
“Where Di I Go From Here” is one of my favorites.
“Was it every established why she suddenly became anorexic?”
Supposedly, it was a music critic’s article commenting on her chubbiness.
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