I don't know who told you that Carpenters were a folk group. They were Pop/Easy Listening at the time. Many rock fans would make fun of them to their friends as not being 'cool', and then listen to them at home as a 'guilty pleasure'. And many more who did not really appreciate them at all back then, have come to realize what incredible talent they had.

The story is true. She was actually addressing the anorexia, trying to get healthy, but her heart could not take it. I remember the day she died. So sad.

Voice of an angel. Flawless vocals. Gone wayyyyyyy too soon. She blessed us as long as she could. RIP

This voice was WAY before auto tune when you could actually hear how a singer sounded. Her voice was often referred to as angelic. Literally one one of best voices in music history.

Carpenter began dieting while in high school. Under a doctor's guidance, she began the Stillman diet, eating lean foods, drinking eight glasses of water a day and avoiding fatty foods. She reduced her weight to 120 pounds (54 kg) and stayed approximately at that weight until around 1973 when the Carpenters' career reached its peak. That year, she saw a concert photo of herself and felt that her clothing made her appear heavy. She hired a personal trainer, who advised her to change her diet. The new diet built muscle, which made her feel heavier instead of slimmer. Carpenter fired the trainer and began her own weight-loss program using exercise equipment and counting calories. She lost about 20 pounds (9 kg) and intended to lose another 5 pounds (2.3 kg). Her eating habits also changed around this time; she would try to remove food from her plate by offering tastes to others with whom she was dining.

By September 1975, Carpenter weighed 91 pounds (41 kg). At live performances, fans reacted with gasps to her gaunt appearance, and many wrote to the pair to ask what was wrong. She refused to declare publicly that she was suffering from an eating disorder; in a 1981 Nationwide TV-interview, when asked point blank about anorexia, she simply said she was "pooped". However, she and those around her knew that something was wrong. Dionne Warwick wrote that when meeting Carpenter for lunch in New York in 1981, "It was shocking to see how very thin she was."[88] In an interview after Karen's death, Richard said that he was aware that Karen was unhealthily dieting starting around 1975 but that neither he nor their parents knew how to help her.. In 1981, she told Richard that there was a problem and that she needed help with it.Carpenter spoke with Cherry Boone, who had recovered from anorexia, and contacted Boone's doctor for help. She was hoping to find a quick solution to her problem, as she had performing and recording obligations, but the doctor told her that treatment could last from one to three years. She then chose to be treated in New York City by psychotherapist Steven Levenkro.

By late 1981, Carpenter was taking thyroid-replacement medication, which she obtained using the name of Karen Burris, to increase her metabolism. She used the medication in conjunction with increased consumption (as many as 90 tablets per night) of the laxatives upon which she had long relied, which caused food to pass quickly through her digestive tract. Despite Levenkron's treatment, including confiscation of medications that Carpenter had misused, her condition continued to deteriorate, and she lost more weight eventually reaching an all time low of 77 pounds. She told Levenkron that she felt dizzy and that her heart was beating irregularly. In September 1982, she was admitted to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, where she was placed on intravenous parenteral nutrition. The procedure was successful, and she gained 30 pounds in a relatively short time, but this put a strain on her heart, which was already weak from years of anorexia She maintained a relatively stable weight for the rest of her life.

Carpenter returned to California in November 1982, determined to reinvigorate her career, finalize her divorce and begin a new album with Richard. On December 17, 1982, she performed for the last time as she sang Christmas carols for her godchildren, their classmates and other friends at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California. Carpenter's last public appearance occurred on January 11, 1983, at a gathering of past Grammy Award winners who were commemorating the awards show's 25th anniversary. She seemed somewhat frail and fatigued, but according to Warwick, Carpenter was vibrant and outgoing, exclaiming, "Look at me! I've got an ass!" She also began to write songs for the first time after returning to California and told Warwick that she had "a lot of living left to do”.

On February 1, 1983, Carpenter saw her brother for the last time and discussed new plans for the group and for resumed touring.[c] On February 4, Carpenter was scheduled to sign papers to finalize her divorce. Shortly after waking up that morning, she collapsed on the floor of a walk-in closet at her parents' home in Downey. Paramedics found her unconscious and in cardiac arrest with her heart beating once every 10 seconds (6 bpm). She was rushed by ambulance to Downey Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:51 a.m., at the age of 32.

She is captivating because she was one of the rare people with perfect pitch when she sings

My friend owned a Home Security System Company and was hired by The Carpenter Family to install a security system in their Downey, California home. After my friend arrived, Karen walked into the kitchen, hopped up onto the kitchen counter, introduced herself to my friend, “Hi, I’m Karen, what’s your name?” “Nice to meet you Norm” and began asking questions about him and his life. He said that she was so sweet and friendly. He really enjoyed his time working in The Carpenter’s home.

Greatest female vocalist ever !! EVER !!!

Karen was one of the best drummers of her day and she could sing too

We comment about her illness and death, because she was so loved when she died at such a young age. When the news came out to say our hearts were broken is an understatement. She had such a gentleness that we needed and all of a sudden she’s gone. She is truly missed, thank God for the recordings and videos. Please checkout their Christmas album.

Your wife is very intuitive! Karen Carpenter's voice was very enchanting and clear as a bell! She also was known for having a perfect pitch. A true modern legend!

She was known as one take karen - she sang perfect everytime.

Love everything the Carpenters have produced!  The world has missed the remarkable talent of Karen Carpenter 🙏❤️

I think wifey is bent still about what you said. 🤔🤷‍♀️. Bring your wife back as much as you like, it’s great seeing her and you react together.

One hell of a drummer as well

OOOOOH,and it's Christmas time give a listen too "Merry Christmas Darling" by the Carpenters!

No matter what I'm going through if I play the carpenters I mellow right out.  Karen's voice is so pure and effortless

The voice of an angel taken from us far too soon

She is polled many times as the most beautiful voice of all time

Love the Carpenters,Karens voice is just beautiful! ❤

Please have your wife on as much as possible.  I like seeing you both.  ....and yes, lets see your wife's reaction when Karen is behind the drum kit.  BTW, she did a cover of Help! from behind the kit in concert.  If you haven't seen it....