Whatever Happened to Mother Maybelle Carter's 3 Daughters

They were country music’s first family—now hear the untold story. From border-radio stages to the Grand Ole Opry, Mother Maybelle Carter’s daughters Helen, June, and Anita grew up harmonizing on guitars, autoharps, and accordions—touring with Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash and shaping the sound of American music. In this video, we trace where life took each sister after the golden era and how they protected the Carter legacy for generations.

What you’ll learn

Helen Carter – the arranging genius and multi-instrumentalist who anchored the Carter sound, wrote overlooked gems, and kept the family harmony alive on the road and at home.

June Carter Cash – the magnetic performer and comedian who co-wrote “Ring of Fire,” found enduring love with Johnny Cash, and won late-career Grammys with Press On and Wildwood Flower.

Anita Carter – the “Appalachian songbird” with a breathtaking soprano, early hits with Hank Snow, and the first recording of “(Love’s) Ring of Fire.”

Highlights & milestones

Border-radio beginnings in the late 1930s and early Opry years (1950).

Carter Sisters on tour with Elvis; Cash/Carter roadshow years.

Family revivals in the 1980s bringing in the next generation.

The sisters’ final years, honors, and lasting impact on roots and country music.

If you love deep-dive music history—arranging secrets, backstage stories, and the real people behind legendary songs—this one’s for you.