The song has been included in a number of Taylor 's concert video releases , including 1980 's '' James Taylor : In Concert '' at the Blossom Music Center , 1988 's '' James Taylor : In Concert '' at Boston 's Colonial Theatre , and 2002 's '' Pull Over '' . It was performed in collaboration with the Dixie Chicks in 2002 for the '' CMT Crossroads '' program . In 2004 , Taylor and the Chicks again performed the song together during the Vote for Change tour , with Taylor dedicating it to former North Carolina Senator and U.S. vice-presidential candidate John Edwards . On the 2006 '' A Musicares Person of the Year Tribute Honoring James Taylor '' tribute show and video release , " Carolina in My Mind " was performed by Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas . The song was then included in Taylor 's 2006 – 2007 One Man Band Tour ; accompanied only by Larry Goldings on piano and harmonium , Taylor introduced the song with visual material and by relating its composition on Formentera and other locations . He talked about the Karin of the lyrics , whom he had known only briefly and never seen since , and related various humorous notions about how to find her again . One such performance was documented on the 2007 album and video release '' One Man Band '' . Another live performance appeared on Taylor 's 2010 live CD/DVD combo release with Carole King , '' Live at The Troubadour '' . James Taylor appeared on '' The Colbert Report '' on January 19 , 2012 , and sang " Carolina in My Mind " along with Stephen Colbert , and then performed it on the final day of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte , North Carolina , where he greeted " fellow Tar Heels and Democrats "
2012 Democratic National Convention
2012 Democratic National Convention
Carolina in My Mind