carroll was born in detroit, michigan, and went by "jeannie". her father, thomas f. "tom" carroll, jr., was an inventor, and her mother, betty (mckinney) carroll, was a retired allen county, indiana politician. carroll was raised in fort wayne, indiana. she attended indiana university, where she was a pi beta phi and a cheerleader and was crowned miss indiana university. in 1964, representing indiana university, she won the miss cheerleader usa title. carroll appeared on the mid-1980s edition of card sharks hosted by bob eubanks.