1969年，年仅19岁的 Karen Carpenter和 Richard Carpenter跟当时美国其中一间最重要的唱片公司 A&M 签订合约。他们的第一张唱片登上美国百强单曲榜的第五十四位。没多久，在1970年的夏天，他们的民谣 Close to You 成为流行榜的第一位。 在1973年的一场演唱后，Karen 从相片中看到自己身穿一袭欠理想的裙子，她顿时感到自己很胖。虽然她的身型一向也不胖，但这件事却引发她饮食紊乱，更开始厌食，而当时的医生并不了解厌食症的病征。在1983年，32岁的 Karen 就在父母家中离世。 早逝的偶像通常死于药物过量或酗酒，而 Karen 则死于一种匮乏，不单只是饮食上，也是爱与自信上的匮乏。

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.