Soul legend Carl Carlton dead at 72: The She’s a Bad Mama Jama hitmaker passes away after ‘long hard fight in life’

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Carl Carlton, the Grammy-nominated singer famous for songs like “She’s a Bad Mamma Jama” and “Everlasting Love,” has passed away at 72.

Carlton Hudgens II confirmed the sad news on Sunday, posting a heartfelt message about his father on Facebook.

He mourned the loss of his father, Carl Carlton, the singer of ‘She’s a Bad Mama Jama,’ sharing a photo and saying he’d fought a long, difficult battle and would be deeply missed.

Hudgens shared a photo of his father online, writing a heartfelt message: ‘Rest in peace, Dad. You can finally rest, and I’ll always love you.’

Carlton passed away six years after experiencing a severe stroke in 2019, which caused lasting health issues.

No official cause of death has been publicly disclosed, at this time.

Carlton, originally from Detroit, started his music career in the 1960s using the name Little Carl Carlton.

He stopped using the nickname shortly after his song “I Can Feel It” appeared on the Billboard Soul Singles chart in the early 1970s.

His career didn’t really gain momentum until 1974, when he released “Everlasting Love.” The song is still popular today and has been streamed over 25 million times on Spotify.

Although ‘Everlasting Love’ established Carlton as a significant figure in music, his greatest mainstream success came seven years later with the hit song ‘She’s A Bad Mama Jama’.

The song was nominated for a Grammy Award and has been streamed over 100 million times on Spotify. When you include plays from other platforms like Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music, the total number of listens is likely close to half a billion.

I was so incredibly saddened to hear about Carl Carlton’s passing. Confunkshun, a group he was so closely tied to, shared a beautiful tribute on Facebook, and it really captured how we all feel. They said his voice and talent will always be with us, part of the music that shaped so many of our lives. It’s a huge loss for everyone who loved his music, and they sent their deepest sympathies to his family and fans. Rest in peace, Carl – your music will never be forgotten.

Carlton was a hugely popular R&B singer, considered one of the best of his time, and his music resonated with listeners worldwide.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve learned that families often choose to grieve privately, and in this case, it seems that’s exactly what’s happening. We haven’t received any details about funeral or memorial plans, and it’s my understanding the family wishes to keep things very intimate, limited to close friends and relatives. It’s a difficult time, and respecting their privacy feels especially important right now.

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2025-12-15 19:03