Who Is Clarence Carter’s Ex-Wife Candi Staton? Inside The Soul Singer’s 5 Marriages As He Dies At 90

Legendary soul singer Clarence Carter, best known for timeless hits like Strokin’, Slip Away, and Patches, has died at the age of 90. The two-time Grammy-winning musician reportedly passed away peacefully at his home in Decatur, Georgia, on May 13, 2026, leaving behind a rich six-decade legacy in soul and blues music.

The Alabama-based singer’s death was announced on Thursday morning by FAME  Recording Studios, with a hearty tribute for their “dear friend” who had “one of the most distinctive and soulful voices in music history.” The post did not divulge details about the circumstances of his death. 

Carter’s demise has once again brought his personal life into the spotlight, especially his marriages and his brief yet memorable romance with his ex-wife, fellow soul singer Candi Staton.

Clarence Carter was married five times

Yes, Carter had been married five times, and he often joked publicly about the turbulent storm that his romantic life was. While the Back Door Santa singer kept much of his personal life private, his relationship with gospel and soul singer Candi Staton remained his most talked-about marriage. Speaking about his five marriages that often raised eyebrows, Carter had once jokingly quipped:

“I’ve been divorced five times, too. What’s wrong with those women?”

Despite his multiple marriages, the one that always stood out was his years spent with Candy Staton. They were soul music’s ultimate power couple, and despite their amicable divorce, the former spouses shared a respect that always stayed.

Who is Candi Staton?

Canzetta Maria “Candi” Staton is an acclaimed American soul and gospel singer known for some iconic American hits. Born in 1940, she became one of the most defining voices of Southern soul music during the 1970s. Status first gained recognition through gospel music before transitioning into mainstream soul and R&B, a shift she highly regards in her now late ex-husband, Clarence Carter. Over the decades, she built a successful career in the industry with hits like Young Hearts Run Free, Stand By Your Man, and the famous version of You Got the Love. 

State and built a hugely successful career in both soul and Christian music and has received five Grammy nominations, including a 2026 nomination for her album, Back to My Roots, which earned a nod in the category of Best Roots Gospel Album at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Like Carter, she also had several marriages throughout her life and became one of the defining voices of Southern soul music during the 1970s.

Inside Candy Staton’s marriage with Clarence Carter

Clarence Carter met Candi Staton as a fellow singer in 1968, when the latter was just beginning her solo music career. The two met at a time when Staton was trying to rebuild her life and music career after leaving an abusive marriage. Beginning professional acquaintances, Saturn and Carter eventually developed a more personal bond, one that has stayed to this day. 

It was Carter who reportedly helped introduce her to producer recall at the iconic FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also played a major role in shaping the singer’s early music career and even wrote her breakthrough Southern soul hit, I’d Rather Be an Old Man’s Sweetheart (Than a Young Man’s Fool). 

After knowing each other for two years, the couple tied the knot in 1970 and welcomed a son together, Clarence Carter Jr. However, the marriage did not last long, and they were divorced in 1973. Despite the separation, the gospel singer has always spoken warmly about Carter. Her most recent interview about the lead singer was from 2025, when Staton described Carter as a “brilliant man” and praised his musical talent and influence on the career. Sharing a snippet of her interview, Staton wrote in an April 2025 post:

“I was married to a blind man. Clarence Carter was an amazing husband and is such a brilliant man. I have fond memories with him.”

What is known about Clarence Carter’s other marriages

Even though it is reported that Carter had been married five times, the details of most of his marriages remain murky because he kept his private life out of the spotlight. After divorcing Candi Staton, Carter was linked to a woman named Ethel Pearl, with whom he was married at some point and later divorced. Even after their split, Pearl remained close friends with many of Carter’s childhood friends from Alabama until she died in 2022. 

Later in life, Carter married Joyce Jenkins in 2001. The couple reportedly lived together in DeKalb County, Georgia, where Carter spent the final years of his life before passing away at age 90.

Clarence Carter overcame blindness to become a music icon

Clarence Carter lost his eyesight by age 1, but he never let it dim his spirit. Despite all his challenges, he taught himself to play guitar and later studied music at Alabama State College. By 1970, he had become a powerful voice in soul music, launching his career alongside fellow blind musician calcium Scott before eventually breaking out as a solo artist. Carter later became one of the most defining voices of the Muscle Shoals’ soul movement with iconic hits including Slip Away, Tell Daddy, Patches, and the wildly popular Strokin’. 

Following news of his death, FAME Studios shared an emotional tribute honouring the singer’s impact on music. The studio praised Carter’s contributions to the Muscle Shoals sound and highlighted how he overcame blindness while becoming one of soul music’s most recognisable voices. Their post reads:

“He was far more than an artist to us. He was family. The contributions Clarence made to FAME, the Muscle Shoals Sound, and American music simply cannot be overstated. Beyond being one of the most distinctive and soulful voices in music history, he was also a remarkably tasteful guitar player and an exceptional songwriter who penned many of his own hits. He did all of this while being blind from the age of one.”