Mavis Staples

"I'm the messenger," says Mavis Staples. "That’s my job, and I can't give up while the struggle's still alive." Staples has spent over 70 years delivering that message, one rooted in love, faith, justice, and joy. A trailblazing gospel, soul, and R&B singer, she began her career as a teenager with her family band, The Staple Singers. Guided by the voice of her father, Roebuck "Pops" Staples, the group became a musical pillar of the civil rights movement and a fixture in American music history.

Over the decades, Staples has carved out a singular path as both a solo artist and collaborator. She is a GRAMMY Award-winner, a Kennedy Center honoree, and an inductee into both the Blues and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and sang at the White House for President Barack Obama. Her influence spans generations, having worked with artists as diverse as Prince, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire, Hozier, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and Nick Cave.

Her twelfth studio album We Get By, produced by multi-GRAMMY Award winner Ben Harper, is a powerful testament to her enduring artistry. Recorded live with her longtime touring band, the album features emotionally charged songs like “Change,” “Stronger,” and “Brothers and Sisters.” Harper wrote the entire record specifically for Staples, calling the experience the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

At a time when many artists slow down, Staples has only intensified her creative output, releasing a series of critically acclaimed albums in her seventies and eighties. Her voice continues to grow in texture and power, and her commitment to uplifting others through music remains unshakable. “I sing to leave people feeling better than I found them,” she says. “That’s why I’m still here.”