Who is Peter Yarrow’s wife? All about Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow as member of folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary dies

Peter Yarrow, lead vocalist and songwriter for the folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary, passed away on 7 January 2025 at 86 after a four-year battle with bladder cancer. As we remember Yarrow's legacy, which is dotted with Billboard Top 10 singles and Grammys, let's look at his relationship with his wife, Mary Beth McCarthy.

Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow is an accomplished producer known for her work on impactful social and political documentaries and television projects. Throughout her career, Mary Beth went on to produce content for major networks like HBO, NBC, CBS, and Lifetime.

Notable works include Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light for the American Masters series and Sean O’Casey: Under a Coloured Cap, a documentary exploring the life and influence of the celebrated Irish playwright, produced for Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) and BBC Northern Ireland.

Originally from Willmar, Minnesota, she began her producing career in 1980 with the documentary The Willmar 8, directed by her close friend and long-time collaborator, Lee Grant. The film highlighted a groundbreaking moment in U.S. history: eight women bank employees staged the nation’s first bank strike, advocating for workplace equality and fair treatment.

Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow is the niece of Eugene McCarthy, the former U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate. Eugene, her father’s brother, was a prominent political figure, reported Distractify.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1958, McCarthy served until 1967. That year, he made headlines by announcing his candidacy for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination, running as a vocal opponent of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam War.

Relationship between Peter Yarrow and Mary Beth McCarthy

Mary Beth and Peter Yarrow initially married in 1969 but later separated for 12 years before officially divorcing in 1981. However, their love story came full circle when they remarried in 2022. According to The Guardian, their wedding featured the first-ever public performance of Noel Paul Stookey’s iconic 'The Wedding Song (This is Love).'

Recalling the ceremony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on October 18 in an interview with the West Central Tribune, Mary Beth described a packed church filled with family, friends, and acquaintances, including classmates from her hometown of Willmar.

She also reminisced about how she first met Peter Yarrow—after being invited to stand during a performance of “Blowin’ in the Wind,” following the group’s creation of a campaign song.

“The church was full. I have no idea how many invited guests. There were mom’s and dad’s friends and relatives, many who came from out of town. There were my high school classmates and Willmar friends. Dad was a prominent physician in the area with many acquaintances and that meant more people,”

Mary Beth McCarthy & Peter Yarrow share two kids together— daughter Bethany and son Christopher Yarrow. Both kids have shared updates about Peter Yarrow on their respective socials.

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The two have also created a tribute page for their father Peter Yarrow referring to him as 'Puff the Magic Dragon.'

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