Exclusive Interview
Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter’s Grandson Hugo Wentzel Shares Rare Details About Their Love Story
Hugo Wentzel isn’t the only member of his family to share his love story with the world.
Recently, Swooon caught up with the Claim to Fame star and his partner, Olivia Aquilina, whom he met on the show. During our interview with the couple, we couldn’t help but ask Wentzel about the celebrity relatives that landed him on Claim to Fame, his grandparents, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.
Jimmy and Rosalynn first met when he was two and she was a newborn, as their parents were longtime friends. The couple got married on July 7, 1946, in their hometown of Plains, Georgia. Throughout their 77 years together, Jimmy and Rosalynn had four children, eleven grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Wentzel, who is the first son of their only daughter, Amy Carter, revealed that his mother read a love letter that his grandmother sent to his grandfather at “one of the 30” funerals they had for Rosalynn, who died on November 19, 2023. President Carter died December 29, 2024. As Wentzel put it, “It was really nice to have so many funerals for both of them, my grandpa and my grandma.”
Wentzel recalled, “A big part of their relationship, and just why the dynamic was so good, was not only because they’re in love, but because they both had such big goals, separately.” He added, “They could support each other on what they wanted, independently, while also supporting [their] relationship together.”
The Claim to Fame star also told Swooon a lesson he learned from Rosalynn and Jimmy’s relationship. He shared, “I think a big part [of their relationship] was being in love, having the relationship, loving everything [about] each other, but also supporting each other’s unique own adventures on such an extreme level, which really helped both of them.”
While many know about President Carter’s accomplishments, both during and after his presidency, Wentzel made it clear that the couple “equally achieved their dreams.” For the First Lady, this meant taking advantage of her position of power by bringing awareness to mental health in America.
Wentzel concluded with fond remarks about his late grandmother, remembering, “My grandma supported my grandpa so much. I’m glad people see that because she was a very strong, very awesome woman.”
