1969年，年僅19歲的 Karen Carpenter和 Richard Carpenter跟當時美國其中一間最重要的唱片公司 A&M 簽訂合約。他們的第一張唱片登上美國百強單曲榜的第五十四位。没多久，在1970年的夏天，他們的民謠 Close to You 成為流行榜的第一位。 在1973年的一場演唱後，Karen 從相片中看到自己身穿一襲欠理想的裙子，她頓時感到自己很胖。雖然她的身型一向也不胖，但這件事卻引發她飲食紊亂，更開始厭食，而當時的醫生並不了解厭食症的病徵。在1983年，32歲的 Karen 就在父母家中離世。 早逝的偶像通常死於藥物過量或酗酒，而 Karen 則死於一種匱乏，不單只是飲食上，也是愛與自信上的匱乏。

In 1969, Karen, barely 19, and Richard Carpenter sign a contract with A&M Records, then one of the major record labels in the USA. Their first single reaches #54 on the US Billboard charts. Shortly after, in the summer of 1970, their ballad “Close to You” is #1. They become the definitive pop superstars of the 70s.

After a concert in 1973, Karen sees photos of herself in an unfavorable dress. She looks fat in it, even if she never really was, and that shock trigger an eating disorder. She becomes anorexic, a condition still unknown to doctors at the time. In 1983, at the age of 32, Karen passes away in her parents' home.

If icons often die from too much drugs or alcohol, Karen died of a terrible deprivation, not only of food but also of love and self-confidence.