Last Carter Family Member Dies

LATEST: JANETTE CARTER, the last surviving member of legendary country music institution the CARTER FAMILY, has died of Parkinson's disease and other health complications. She was 82.

The singer, who was JUNE CARTER CASH's cousin, was admitted to a Kingsport, Tennessee, hospital on Christmas Day (25DEC05) after falling and breaking her wrist. She never fully recovered.

She was transported to the hospital's intensive care unit last week (ends20JAN06) and died yesterday (22JAN06).

The daughter of Carter Family founders AP and SARA CARTER, Janette Carter was an accomplished autoharp player, and performed traditional Appalachian country and folk music weekly until Parkinson's disease robbed her of her musical abilities.