Karen Carpenter Was Found Dead By Her Estranged Mother - Here's Her Life Story

[@Autshot20]

When of the most beautiful female voices ever recorded. On many of her songs, her voice sounds just as about as perfect as a voice can sound. RIP Karen.

[@greta3315]

Resquiecat in pace Karen. We will always love you

[@mucf9961]

Voice of an angel 😇

[@happiness5556]

Aloha dear Karen. Beautiful singing, beautiful person, and we really miss you. I listen to you sing and perform on my iPhone at least once per day! Rest in peace. Until we meet again…

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

I don’t understand how a mother can have a favorite child, I love all my kids more than words can describe !

[@kyereCat]

Mental illness comes in many forms and probably is the reason behind Karen's own illness.

[@Rocklover478]

Believe me it happens a lot, my mother had 5 children and only cared for 1. He was the golden child and could do nothing wrong. She treat us like dirt and made our lives a living hell. She's old now and can't understand why we are not all running around after her, funny thing is even the golden boy doesn't.

[@michelledesgroseilliers2956]

She literally had one of the most beautiful voices of all time! RIP Karen. Her story is so sad.

[@ginac895]

Poor Karen, she had the worst mother. Cold, distant, no interest in her daughter and showed it. Karen”s brother was selfish, not encouraging her to make her solo album was in his best interest. Karen deserved better. RIP

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@happiness5556]

♥️

[@melgrant7404]

Agree.richard was her favourite.

[@ednaatluxton4918]

He pushed her for his own fame. But she was always the star of the duo. She couldn't have relationships as he didn't want her to have her own life or mind. I always wondered if he was SAing her. That could explain her mental health issues. Family like that.

[@emmaebun3452]

Very sad

[@DeborahWitt-rx7je]

She had the most beautiful voice ever recorded.if she had more support from her mother she might of been able to pull through that horrible eating disorder.

[@annrodriguez2891]

Karen Carpenter..the absolute best female vocalist EVER...that is why we all love her...No voice as smooth as warm honey on a sunshiney day...I was 16 when she died ..and I am so disturbed by her suffering...but I know God has her singing with the angels...she was so beautiful

[@SusanGray-p1p]

Loved to hear Karen sing! Such a great loss the day she passed. Never to be forgotten! Beautiful inside and outside. If only she could have seem that for herself. To many people let her down. My favorite song was Close To You! ❤❤ ❤

[@deborahjesser2028]

She died in Downey hospital California. I worked there and I knew people that were there when she died and the whole hospital was affected by the experience.

[@marietighe6328]

Oh for goodness sake. People need to stop acting like they are personally affected by things. She was a singer, not your personal friend.

[@Foreverarose8]

@marietighe6328 It’s sad though. She died from starving herself. Anyone would be sad from that. You don’t have to personally know someone to have a heart for them.

[@catherinemarsh6361]

It has been 40years since Karen left us. The have learned a lot since then. Richard had made a solo album after her death, a fan said that it would be better if Karen was also singing. He said he agreed . Even your mother didn't we all still love you Karen.

[@davidgoldman6913]

Richard had a talent, but The Carpenters featured Karen as "LEAD" vocals, & He couldn't do it w/o Her... RIP KAREN 👌🏾✌️👍🏼

[@AnnmmarieMarchitelli]

She was beautiful inside & out....angelic voice

[@juliestrom412]

Her Mom was an undiagnosed sadist and flat our borderline everything.... Poor girl. I wish she could have broke away. I guess it was deeply entrenched.

[@wendygizmorazzmatazz8899]

Her death and the people around her deciding to be open and honest about the true cause of her untimely demise, saved my life. I was 18 and had been starving myself since I was 13. My mother finally realized what was going on when it was announced that Karen died from Anorexia. What I was doing finally had a name and my mother could help me address the issues and overcome it. I loved the Capenters and Karen was one of my musical idols growing up, so her death impacted me greatly. She is truly missed.

[@Mister8224]

That was Herb Alpert in a picture.

[@MalonsMilk]

She really was a lovely lady. Her voice isn’t flashy and showy but her vocals were deep and rich and you just don’t hear that very often. Her talent was sorely missed.

[@marietighe6328]

Her voice was beautiful. Its not about being flashy or showy. Most singers have a range. Sometimes we dont hear their prowess. Her vocals were controlled.

[@marisawoods]

Truly, the voice of an angel. God rest her soul.

[@Melissa02891]

Rainy days and Mondays was my favorite 🌹

[@RLS2512]

Her mother was a narcisist....such sad story. If she ould have only known how incredible she was with out her brother.

[@melgrant7404]

Richard was her mothers favourite. That was part of the problem.

[@junetaylor8396]

An amazing talent and such a likeable person.

[@larryhunter2026]

Karen also dated Andy Gibb, thanks for posting. I didn't know her mother was so hard on her. so sad. bless her.

[@stellamal7088]

Her mother was her downfall l read long before they became famous, her mother never showed her any 💘 love it was a point of contention between karen and her mother if only her mother had loved her, she probably wouldn't be dead 💔 very sad and tragic story

[@warrencarter-j1h]

My most favorite female singer and group. Their harmonies and musicianship are superb. Pure genius. .

[@beverlyjohnson3025]

I don't think she lost 91 pounds, she got her weight down to 91 pounds. 120 pounds minus 91 pounds = 29 pounds. Proof reading is your friend. The gravestone isn't Karen's.

[@user-iz6cc6lz3j-Vickie]

I thought I read she had gotten down to 74 lbs.

[@beverlyjohnson3025]

@@user-iz6cc6lz3j-Vickie She was when she died, but I was responding to his first weight reference of her loosing 91 pounds, not weighing 91 pounds. Such a great talent and such a sad story.

[@cd72]

@@beverlyjohnson3025 She dropped to 77 lbs but with treatment she gained 31 lbs and maintained her weight at 108 lbs on her 5 ft 4 1/2 inches...

[@kecrn4132]

@@user-iz6cc6lz3j-VickieI thought so too… and when she died, she weighed a bit more as she was trying to recover

[@carolinarena3868]

I love Karen Carpenter always. Not Richard . Everyone LOVED Karen. Her voice and her drumming. She was so Amazing.❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@SharonISAAC-c9u]

Both were really amazing, agreed.❤❤

[@Guadalupeacosta-eb7vk]

My favorite 18:11 "Carpenter should not have listened to her stupid mother"

[@sallyclay1974]

She starved to death. U cant force an adult anorexic person, into treatment.

[@lorraineb.4698]

I thought she was recovering when she died

[@chuckbeedle1983]

Well a lot of people don't know this but her mother kept telling her she was fat on a constant basis and I know for a fact she was never fat period her mother was the most horrible person anyone could ever have the displeasure of meeting. Being a woman myself no mother should ever treat their daughter like that.

[@kecrn4132]

@@lorraineb.4698I believe that to be correct as well ….

[@deborahjesser2028]

She died in Downey hospital California I worked there and I knew people that were there when she coded.

[@chuckbeedle1983]

Her mother was the most nasty person I had ever met and all she did was put her down and her brother too!!!

[@karenlynch5684]

How did you know them?

[@chuckbeedle1983]

@@karenlynch5684 why?

[@chuckbeedle1983]

@@karenlynch5684 also I'm a gal some get thrown by the name but that's good too. lol.

[@karenlynch5684]

@@chuckbeedle1983 just curious.

[@haintedhouse2990]

it's an easy question: "how did you know them?"

[@owlampersand7993]

Tragic 😥 such a serious addiction, poor thing 😪

[@carolinarena3868]

Katen wanted and needed her mothers love. Karen did make her brother look bad. Karen's singing and drumming, thats talent. Perfect!

[@celiamartn9664]

Her Voice was one of a kind like waking up to a calming stream with flowers and the peak of sunshine🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Mary10538]

Karen Carpenter was and still is my favorite female singer

[@trishsiprell6996]

She went on the Stillman diet bc she wanted to lose a bit. She took it too far. And on and on. Loved her voice. I cried when she died. I was just devastated. I miss her so much Love you, Karen, sweetheart. ❤ Even though we never met.❤

[@megnoah9234]

The tombstone at the end of the video is not Karen's. That stone says 'Karen E. (1955-2012)' But singer, drummer, songwriter Karen Anne Carpenter (March 2, 1950 - February 4, 1983) is the subject of the video.

[@Serioussamurai600]

My mum and I used to sing in th e car to the C's 😊

[@mendythompson3175]

She needed way,way more help than she received.She was so sick.Poor lady🫂

[@studiosinger]

This has a few mistakes. Karen didn’t lose 91 lbs! Karen was 5’4 and was never fat, just medium weight so she likely lost 40-50 lbs. The family moved to Downey, CA in 1963, not when they were teenagers.

[@2sistersjunkjournals]

Karen was 13 and Richard was almost 17 when they moved to California. Karen was born in 1950 and Richard in 1946.

[@gloriahufnagel5556]

A voice of an Angel.. just beautiful.. I remember being very young, around 5/6.. I seen The Carpenters on perhaps SNL , or some variety show of the 70s .. I see her on tv & of course I realized she was the singer of all those hits..I asked my mom what was wrong with her.. why was she so skinny.. very sad. She was ultra talented and what a sad story l

[@jvtv1234]

She was such a a wonderful person inside and out. She had so much going for her. My heart really goes out to her. May she rest in peace. She's forever missed.

[@warrencarter-j1h]

The Carpenters are the ones who pioneered doing vocal overdubs. By a process called, "Stacking Tracks". A&M studios had a 24 track multitrack recorder. They would sing one pass and then several more. Harmonizing with themselves. Later on groups like Queen would use this same technique on "Bohemian Rhapsody"

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

RIP ANGEL 😇

[@MayorMcCheeseStalker]

She was living with her mother and father at the time of her death and, in fact, died in her parents’ home. That is not estranged.

[@ricfoster3365]

No, she only stopped in for a day or two

[@lindawallace4513]

​@@ricfoster3365 That is still not estranged.

[@JulieAnderocci]

When a psychiatrist tells u to tell your child u love her and u dont😢😢😢😢😢

[@Mikeymoo-x3p]

I think the whole family was dysfunctional including her brother. Despite his beautiful arrangements, how on earth could he not see that she should have been front and centre and not him. That went on for quite a long time and his parents supported and encouraged the golden child. He thought he was the singer and tried to push her into the background until what became inevitable eventually happened. No wonder she didn't have a lot of confidence.

[@ednaatluxton4918]

Her hair had thinned and was falling out due to malnutrition so she permed it and back combed it. She was a walking skeleton and nobody helped her because her brother controlled her and wouldnt let her have a life ,support system, friends,boyfriends ,husband etc all to keep himself famous. Well it was proven she was the star.

[@kenwooldridge8216]

My dad said right in front of me "have two kids, never have three"! It's hard being hated by your own family!

[@mjbaz1]

Agnes Carpenter certainly seems to have had issues and her daughter suffered as a result. But they were not estranged when she died.

[@Max2U]

True

[@stacymatthews57789]

She wasn’t estranged from her mother. Over the years it seems as though their mother daughter relationship may have become toxic in ways. She was at her parents home because she and her mother were going to go shopping to get Karen a new washer and dryer for her condo.

[@carolinarena3868]

Karens voice was the best ever. Karen needed her mothers love and didnt get it. Karen will always be a SUPERSTAR⭐Never forgotten

[@carlascrivens1855]

Love her forever ❤😢

[@chuckbeedle1983]

RIP friend

[@DeniseDDS]

How estranged could they be when she was at her mother's house when she died?

[@LeslieGMN]

Karen never stopped trying to get her mother’s positive attention. She died trying. Agnes forced her to go through with her costly wedding even after her money-grubbing fiancé admitted he’d had a vasectomy (“You made your bed, Karen. Now you have to lay in it,” said Agnes, pointing out that People magazine would cover the nuptials). I find their relationship creepy and fascinating.

[@DeniseDDS]

@LeslieGMN that is creepy and sad

[@LeslieGMN]

@@DeniseDDS Isn’t it? Much of what I’ve read about the Carpenters was to suss out what went wrong between Agnes and Karen. I’m floored that Agnes allowed her the purchase of the same pricey Ludwig drum kit as Ringo Starr owned. But even near the end of her only daughter’s life, Karen’s therapist couldn’t get her to say, “I love you.” (Not surprising that I also had a toxic relationship with my mother, which sharpened my interest in this pair.)

[@DeniseDDS]

@@LeslieGMN I understand I am 64 years old and my mother has not spoken to me in 3 years and hasn't told me why. It shouldn't come as a surprise to me but it does I have lived more than half of my adult life without her. I know everyone reacts differently and we all do the best we can. However I would never let my mother have that kind of control over me.

[@LeslieGMN]

@ Understandable. I’m glad you were able to avoid being controlled that way. (My parents went no contact with me shortly after my wedding, nearly forty years ago.) It’s tragic that despite her talent and wealth, Karen simply could not stop going to the dry well that her mother represented.

[@pinkfreud62]

Weird way to end a video. Just abrupt without a few kind, parting words. Grew up with the Carpenters and they'll always be apart of my childhood soundtrack. RIP, Karen. Gone too soon...

[@usethetools]

IGNORANCE... HER MOTHER HAD ISSUES... AND KAREN DID TOO... SO SO UNDERSTANDABLE AND VERY SAD. REJECTION CAN BE DEADLY SO... SEEK THE ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE JESUS ALONE CAN OFFER.

[@trafficjon400]

Well done!!! thought I saw all karens picks but guess not.

[@christinek2426]

why was there a picture of Three's Company towards the end?

[@BuddhaBeanie]

Her hair looked fried at the end.

[@ellenspear50]

How could Karen lose 91 pounds? I've never seen a photo in which she appeared anything but slender.

[@warrencarter-j1h]

I had a big crush on Karen. I pictured myself married to her even at age of 17. 🥰

[@crissyflores9261]

That tombstone at the end is not hers- it says she died in 2012.

[@kenwooldridge8216]

How can you improve over a three active range?

[@alisonmcnamara800]

She was the Carpenters, Richard plays the piano! Not many albums after their skinny star left us! Don't outshine your brother!

[@60toodles]

she wasn't estranged from her mother and in fact was staying at her mothers house when she had the fatal heart attack. She died around half an hour later in hospital. Crikey can't even get the basic facts right. If she was estranged from her she wouldn't have been staying with her.

[@rightmadmod9416]

She WAS NOT estranged from her mother. OMG. She died whilst staying with her.

[@trishsiprell6996]

I discovered the beginnings of anorexia in 8th grade. I weighed 79 pounds and was bullied relentlessly for being fat, poor, ugly and Protestant (Catholic school). By the time I was 21, it was full-blown anorexia. I hated myself, and food was my enemy. I was afraid to eat and terrified of being "fat." People were vicious and nasty bc I was thin. No one noticed it was killing me. I didn't shake it until I was 35. It was a terrible time and an ugly disease. It was years before I could sit down and eat a full meal without being severely ill. If you suspect you are in the throes of an eating disorder, or you know someone who is, take them to a specialist, intervene, do what you have to do before you or they die. It's about control, NOT vanity. Anorexia's control will end you or your loved one. Use whatever you can, but don't sit still. Therapy, prayer, even encouragement from friends can all be positive factors. Distorted body image was my issue. There are many triggers. All of them are potentially powerful and potentially deadly. GET HELP.

[@JulieAnderocci]

So many dangerous diets😢😢😢😢

[@AngelaOBrien-o7l]

even after wshe dies people were still mean to her

[@johnnysunrocket8618]

I met her once and told her she looked fat! Of course I was kidding even though I didn't say it, i figured she new i was joking but later I wondered if I had an influence on her outlook towards her weight 😅 Sorry

[@asturiasceltic3183]

I heard that it was actually a review of some journalist who called Karen chubby and that's why she became anorexic

[@kecrn4132]

There are many reasons one develops an eating disorder…. One comment would not be “the”reason for her eating disorder

[@asturiasceltic3183]

@@kecrn4132 You do not know her nor her reasons but according to people who knew her that's what they said.

[@kecrn4132]

@@asturiasceltic3183 you do not know her either! And according to people who knew her, and to many studies on eating disorders, there are a number of reasons that led to her anorexia. The relationship with her mother likely being one of the biggest triggers for it

[@asturiasceltic3183]

@kecrn4132 I am going to go with people who actually knew her like her mother and friends over a nobody like you who is spitting out research that most people already know and you think you're enlightening people. 😆 😆 trying to be a pseudo intellectual pretending to be close to the source

[@asturiasceltic3183]

@@kecrn4132 did I say I knew her. You're the one implying that you know exactly what went through her mind like some phony that you are

[@Djr67]

So many mistakes in this video.

[@Perfect_Blend]

Yep.

[@MissaPality]

Can someone tell me what the heck am I looking at here? 11:55

[@sandrabrown950]

I thought het mother found her on the bedroom floor ,and she was already gone by then ?

[@michaelcainghug1735]

She found Karen face down on the kitchen floor wearing a red tracksuit. 😢

[@carolhesterberg7526]

She was found by her mom in her bedroom closet upstairs, not in the kitchen. Her heart was barely beating and paramedics did CPR all the way to Downey Hospital. She was pronounced dead shortly after that.

[@carolhesterberg7526]

She wasn't dead when Agnes found her in her bedroom closet, but her heart was barely beating. CPR was ineffective.

[@autobotdiva9268]

gotta love those narcissistic parents

[@jimmypinetwinchell2454]

Amen...

[@AdrienneReneau-ky4sc]

She was so young when she died

[@zimjun7]

3:22 He looks like Herb Alpert!!

[@Perfect_Blend]

It IS Herb Alpert. Tells you how factual this video is.

[@jeffreyknight3884]

I blame her mother and Richard. Richard sounds like Mama's boy. If it wasn't for Karen's voice. There would never be any carpenters. Let her stay with playing drums.

[@pamhicks6180]

Her mother was a hateful mean woman she did’nt deserve Karen her Daddy should have stood up to her mother

[@ricfoster3365]

He was afraid to, she wore the pants in the family

[@butterflygirl2285]

IMO - There appeared to be dysfunction in her nuclear family.

[@garywhite-u2o]

Was her mother a narcissist?

[@a.y.7738]

I learned a lot about Karen Carpenter in this video, though some say there are errors, but still interesting. So Karen Carpenter’s mom was a narcissist, preferring her brother over her daughter. This lady sounds like a real piece of work and also majorly envious of Karen’s talent enough to sabotage her with bad advice, bad words and the cold shoulder treatment. R.I.P. Karen. ☮️❤✌️

[@OlliyAlia]

zero support.

[@DeborahWitt-rx7je]

RIP Karon

[@sandrabrown950]

She and her brotjer were lovers ?is tjat true ?

[@michellewhiteman4116]

No

[@robertcasa-hr9rh]

She and her brother were lovers

[@Perfect_Blend]

What kind on nonsense are you saying? LOL Trying to get responses? Those are such old early rumors.

[@Cupcake41275]

Such bullshit. Stop

[@annecronin8339]

NEVER

[@melgrant7404]

I heard about that too.

[@michellewhiteman4116]

NO THEY WEREN'T!!! 😡😡

[@fortheloveofgod7739]

Not her grave stone her father was Harold and mother Angnes. There is no Heather A in their family that i know of....