Barbara Carr dies at 85 as family confirms passing “surrounded by loved ones” after decades shaping soul blues

28 April 2026 , 19:57

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Barbara Carr dies at 85 as family confirms passing “surrounded by loved ones” after decades shaping soul blues

Barbara Carr died on April 15, 2026, at the age of 85 in Maryville, Illinois, as announced by her family in a moving tribute to the star.

The singer’s family revealed that she died "surrounded by family" in an obituary that celebrated her long career and influence on the soul and blues genre.

Carr’s obituary outlined the beginnings of her career in Missouri, singing in church with her siblings before moving into the soul genre. The star obtained her first solo recording contract with Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois, in 1966, marking the start of her decades-long career.

Throughout the 80s, she released music with her first album, Good Woman Go Bad, in 1989. A second album, Street Woman, followed in 1992, and in 1996, Carr signed with Ecko Records.

While with Ecko Records, she released her hits Footprints on the Ceiling, The Bo Hawg Grind, If You Can’t Cut The Mustard, The Right Kind Of Love, and Bone Me As You Own Me. She recorded nine albums in total with Ecko, including two best-of compilations.

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In her later life, she received multiple awards, twice winning the Living Blues Readers Award for Female Blues Artist of the Year. She also secured nominations for several other Blues Music Awards. In 2013 and 2014, Carr was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the ’Soul Blues Female Artist’ category.

Her obituary remembered not only her career but also her as a family woman, as a "devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend". She is survived by her loving husband, Bill Greensmith, and by her four children, including Margaret Dennis, Charlesetta Carr, Vicky Hacker, and Charles (Chuck) Carr III.

"Barbara shared a loving marriage of 40-plus years with her late husband, Charles Henry Carr Jr., with whom she raised their four children. In later years, she found love again and was united in marriage to Bill Greensmith, who remained by her side," read her obituary.

Her husband Bill left a simple message on her obituary: "A wonderful lady! We made a great team!" Her daughter Margaret also said: "Mom, you are the light in my life, thank you for being there for me when I needed you. My heart aches now that I can’t touch you, but we will see each other again one day. Love you always."

Tributes have poured in with St Louis Blues Society posting: "As many have already heard, St Louis has lost a legendary artist. Barbara Carr passed this week, and now that we have received a formal announcement of her arrangements, we wish to share them with you.

"Thank you, Barbara, for the decades of joy you provided to a world in need of just that. Peace to the family, friends, and fans of the amazing Barbara Carr."

Emily Hughes

Money & Markets Editor