[6] As a child, Helen Carter played to some of the largest radio audiences in history by way of the powerful signals from the Mexican Border Stations of the 1930s and 1940s.

[7][8][9][3] After the breakup of the original Carter Family in 1943, Maybelle formed a group showcasing Helen and her younger sisters [3][10] The group joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1950[9][11] securing Helen, June and Anita's place in country music history as being among the youngest Grand Ole Opry inductees ever.

[5] Helen rarely sang lead in the Carter Family group and seemed content to focus her efforts on harmony and instrumental backing.

Another remarkable technique, difficult to describe and rarely recorded, had the group members solo-singing small segments of lyric lines or even portions of individual words.

She recorded duets with such acts as The Willis Brothers, Johnny Bond, famed Grand Olde Opry announcer Grant Turner, and Wiley Barkdull (a singer who sounded a lot like Lefty Frizzell).

[4][18] While many of Carter's solo recordings were favorites with loyal fans and always welcomed by concert goers, they did not have a great deal of commercial success.

[3] One likely reason for Helen's limited success as a solo artist may have been competition for radio air play with other members of her famous clan.

[4][9][10][19][20] Though each had her own style, it is of note that all members of the Carter Sisters & Mother Maybelle group (in various combinations) often sang and played on one another's solo recordings.

Another possible reason for Helen Carter's limited success with her solo recordings may simply have been that she was ahead of her time in terms of what the conservative country music establishment was willing to accept.

Yet, some of Helen's self-penned lyrics may have been deemed a bit risque: From Unfit Mother: My neighbors said I was too wild, unfit to mother my own child From Heart Full of Shame: I came to him in a veil of purest white, but you came to him as an angel of the night From There Ain't no Future for Me: When you take me in your arms and snuggle me up tight, I can't help but wonder who you held last night On occasion Helen Carter's writing would lure listeners into uncomfortable, dark situations: From Satan's Child: ...he was tempted more than any man could stand...he thought he could save himself by taking Nelly's life... From Is this My Destiny?

Music acts as diverse as Skeeter Davis, Red Foley, Australian singer Dorothy Baker, the Byrds, Jan Howard, Wanda Jackson, Carl Butler, Ernest Ashworth, Johnny Cash, Linda Manning, Duane Eddy, the Knitters, Billy Grammer, Dawn Kight & the Casuals, Ray Price, Jimmie Dickens, Willie Nelson, Faron Young, Johnnie & Jack, the Osborne Brothers, Jean Shepard, the Cowslingers, the Louvin Brothers, the Browns, Ann-Margret, Chet Atkins, George Morgan, Waylon Jennings and Mark Dinning are among the more than sixty who have recorded her songs.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the group charted a few albums (such as Country's First Family, 1976) and singles including "Traveling Minstrel Band", "The World Needs a Melody", and "A Song for Mama".

Throughout their careers, in fact, all four group members recorded (as soloists and in various combinations) with such acts as Johnny Horton, Dolly Parton, the Wilburn Brothers, Boots Randolph, Grandpa Jones, Flatt & Scruggs, Carl Smith, Porter Wagoner, Merle Haggard, Darrell Glenn, Lefty Frizzell and many others.

[3][8][11] Along with other members of the Carter Family, Helen received a gold record for her participation in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Vol.

In publicity for the album Cash repeatedly discussed the impact that Helen Carter (her aunt through marriage) had on her as a musician, performer and as a songwriter.

[26] In the 2013 Lifetime Television Movie Ring of Fire Helen Carter was portrayed by young singers Emma Peasall and Hannah Peasall at different stages of her life [27] Editors Note: A complete discography for the second generation of the Carter Family or any of its members will likely be problematic due primarily to how many of the recordings were credited and marketed.

This Is for You Mama (1979): lead and harmony vocals, guitar, mandolin, autoharp Songs include "Carter Guitar Medley", "Dark & Stormy Weather", "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room", "Helen's Mandolin Rag", "Hello Stranger", "I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow", "Is This My Destiny", "Lonesome Day", "Poor Wildwood Flower", "Red River Blues", "Tickling the Frets", "Winding Stream" Clinch Mountain Memories (1993): lead vocals, guitar, autoharp Songs include "Clinch Mountain Love", "Poor Old Heartsick Me", "Why Do You Weep Dear Willow", "If You Were Losing Him to Me", "Kneeling Drunkard's Plea", "Mama Sang", "Meeting in the Air", "Hot Footin' It", "Lonesome Fiddle Blues", "No Distinction There", "You Are My Flower" Way Worn Traveler, duet with Johnny Cash, Columbia Records Helen plays accordion on most of the recordings.

She shares lead vocals with Anita on "2001 Ballad to the Future" and "Take Me Home Country Roads" from the album Traveling Minstrel Band.

Helen shares lead vocals on some songs, and her guitar work is featured heavily on many titles from the album Wildwood Flower.